Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

You must need to login..!

Description

Shang-Chi must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization.

Credits: TheMovieDb.

Image

5,132 comments on “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

  1. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  2. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  3. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  4. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  5. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  6. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  7. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  8. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  9. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  10. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  11. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  12. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  13. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  14. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  15. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  16. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  17. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  18. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  19. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  20. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  21. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  22. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  23. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  24. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  25. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  26. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  27. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  28. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  29. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  30. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  31. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  32. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  33. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  34. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  35. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  36. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  37. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  38. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  39. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  40. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  41. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  42. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  43. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  44. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  45. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  46. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  47. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  48. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  49. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  50. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  51. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  52. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  53. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  54. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  55. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  56. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  57. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  58. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  59. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  60. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  61. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  62. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  63. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  64. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  65. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  66. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  67. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  68. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  69. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  70. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  71. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  72. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  73. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  74. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  75. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  76. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  77. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  78. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  79. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  80. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  81. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  82. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  83. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  84. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  85. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  86. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  87. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  88. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  89. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  90. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  91. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  92. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  93. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  94. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  95. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  96. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  97. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  98. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  99. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  100. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  101. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  102. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  103. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  104. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  105. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  106. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  107. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  108. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  109. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  110. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  111. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  112. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  113. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  114. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  115. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  116. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  117. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  118. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  119. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  120. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  121. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  122. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  123. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  124. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  125. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  126. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  127. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  128. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  129. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  130. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  131. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  132. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  133. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  134. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  135. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  136. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  137. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  138. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  139. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  140. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  141. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  142. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  143. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  144. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  145. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  146. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  147. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  148. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  149. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  150. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  151. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  152. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  153. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  154. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  155. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  156. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  157. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  158. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  159. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  160. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  161. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  162. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  163. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  164. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  165. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  166. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  167. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  168. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  169. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  170. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  171. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  172. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  173. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  174. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  175. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  176. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  177. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  178. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  179. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  180. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  181. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  182. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  183. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  184. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  185. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  186. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  187. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  188. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  189. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  190. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  191. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  192. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  193. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  194. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  195. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  196. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  197. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  198. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  199. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  200. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  201. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  202. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  203. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  204. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  205. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  206. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  207. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  208. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  209. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  210. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  211. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  212. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  213. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  214. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  215. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  216. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  217. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  218. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  219. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  220. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  221. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  222. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  223. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  224. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  225. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  226. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  227. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  228. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  229. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  230. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  231. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  232. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  233. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  234. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  235. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  236. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  237. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  238. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  239. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  240. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  241. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  242. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  243. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  244. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  245. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  246. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  247. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  248. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  249. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  250. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  251. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  252. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  253. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  254. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  255. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  256. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  257. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  258. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  259. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  260. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  261. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  262. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  263. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  264. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  265. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  266. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  267. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  268. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  269. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  270. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  271. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  272. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  273. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  274. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  275. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  276. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  277. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  278. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  279. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  280. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  281. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  282. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  283. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  284. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  285. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  286. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  287. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  288. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  289. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  290. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  291. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  292. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  293. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  294. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  295. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  296. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  297. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  298. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  299. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  300. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  301. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  302. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  303. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  304. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  305. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  306. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  307. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  308. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  309. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  310. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  311. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  312. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  313. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  314. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  315. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  316. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  317. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  318. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  319. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  320. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  321. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  322. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  323. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  324. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  325. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  326. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  327. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  328. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  329. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  330. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  331. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  332. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  333. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  334. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  335. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  336. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  337. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  338. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  339. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  340. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  341. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  342. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  343. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  344. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  345. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  346. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  347. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  348. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  349. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  350. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  351. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  352. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  353. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  354. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  355. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  356. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  357. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  358. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  359. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  360. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  361. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  362. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  363. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  364. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  365. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  366. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  367. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  368. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  369. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  370. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  371. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  372. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  373. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  374. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  375. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  376. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  377. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  378. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  379. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  380. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  381. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  382. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  383. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  384. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  385. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  386. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  387. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  388. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  389. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  390. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  391. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  392. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  393. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  394. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  395. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  396. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  397. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  398. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  399. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  400. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  401. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  402. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  403. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  404. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  405. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  406. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  407. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  408. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  409. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  410. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  411. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  412. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  413. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  414. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  415. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  416. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  417. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  418. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  419. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  420. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  421. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  422. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  423. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  424. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  425. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  426. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  427. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  428. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  429. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  430. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  431. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  432. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  433. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  434. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  435. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  436. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  437. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  438. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  439. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  440. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  441. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  442. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  443. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  444. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  445. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  446. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  447. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  448. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  449. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  450. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  451. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  452. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  453. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  454. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  455. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  456. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  457. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  458. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  459. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  460. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  461. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  462. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  463. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  464. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  465. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  466. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  467. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  468. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  469. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  470. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  471. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  472. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  473. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  474. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  475. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  476. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  477. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  478. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  479. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  480. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  481. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  482. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  483. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  484. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  485. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  486. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  487. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  488. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  489. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  490. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  491. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  492. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  493. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  494. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  495. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  496. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  497. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  498. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  499. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  500. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  501. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  502. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  503. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  504. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  505. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  506. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  507. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  508. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  509. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  510. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  511. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  512. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  513. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  514. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  515. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  516. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  517. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  518. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  519. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  520. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  521. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  522. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  523. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  524. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  525. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  526. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  527. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  528. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  529. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  530. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  531. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  532. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  533. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  534. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  535. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  536. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  537. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  538. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  539. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  540. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  541. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  542. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  543. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  544. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  545. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  546. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  547. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  548. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  549. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  550. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  551. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  552. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  553. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  554. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  555. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  556. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  557. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  558. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  559. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  560. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  561. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  562. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  563. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  564. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  565. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  566. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  567. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  568. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  569. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  570. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  571. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  572. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  573. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  574. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  575. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  576. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  577. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  578. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  579. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  580. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  581. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  582. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  583. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  584. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  585. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  586. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  587. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  588. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  589. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  590. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  591. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  592. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  593. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  594. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  595. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  596. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  597. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  598. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  599. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  600. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  601. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  602. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  603. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  604. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  605. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  606. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  607. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  608. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  609. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  610. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  611. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  612. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  613. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  614. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  615. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  616. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  617. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  618. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  619. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  620. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  621. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  622. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  623. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  624. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  625. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  626. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  627. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  628. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  629. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  630. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  631. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  632. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  633. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  634. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  635. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  636. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  637. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  638. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  639. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  640. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  641. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  642. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  643. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  644. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  645. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  646. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  647. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  648. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  649. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  650. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  651. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  652. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  653. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  654. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  655. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  656. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  657. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  658. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  659. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  660. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  661. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  662. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  663. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  664. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  665. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  666. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  667. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  668. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  669. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  670. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  671. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  672. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  673. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  674. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  675. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  676. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  677. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  678. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  679. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  680. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  681. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  682. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  683. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  684. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  685. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  686. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  687. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  688. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  689. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  690. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  691. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  692. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  693. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  694. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  695. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  696. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  697. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  698. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  699. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  700. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  701. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  702. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  703. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  704. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  705. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  706. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  707. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  708. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  709. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  710. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  711. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  712. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  713. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  714. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  715. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  716. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  717. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  718. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  719. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  720. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  721. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  722. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  723. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  724. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  725. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  726. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  727. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  728. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  729. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  730. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  731. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  732. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  733. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  734. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  735. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  736. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  737. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  738. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  739. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  740. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  741. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  742. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  743. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  744. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  745. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  746. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  747. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  748. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  749. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  750. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  751. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  752. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  753. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  754. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  755. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  756. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  757. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  758. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  759. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  760. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  761. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  762. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  763. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  764. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  765. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  766. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  767. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  768. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  769. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  770. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  771. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  772. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  773. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  774. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  775. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  776. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  777. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  778. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  779. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  780. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  781. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  782. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  783. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  784. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  785. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  786. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  787. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  788. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  789. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  790. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  791. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  792. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  793. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  794. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  795. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  796. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  797. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  798. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  799. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  800. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  801. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  802. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  803. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  804. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  805. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  806. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  807. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  808. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  809. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  810. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  811. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  812. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  813. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  814. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  815. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  816. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  817. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  818. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  819. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  820. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  821. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  822. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  823. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  824. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  825. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  826. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  827. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  828. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  829. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  830. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  831. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  832. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  833. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  834. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  835. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  836. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  837. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  838. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  839. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  840. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  841. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  842. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  843. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  844. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  845. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  846. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  847. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  848. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  849. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  850. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  851. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  852. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  853. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  854. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  855. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  856. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  857. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  858. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  859. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  860. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  861. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  862. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  863. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  864. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  865. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  866. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  867. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  868. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  869. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  870. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  871. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  872. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  873. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  874. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  875. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  876. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  877. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  878. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  879. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  880. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  881. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  882. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  883. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  884. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  885. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  886. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  887. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  888. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  889. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  890. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  891. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  892. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  893. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  894. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  895. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  896. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  897. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  898. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  899. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  900. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  901. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  902. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  903. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  904. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  905. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  906. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  907. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  908. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  909. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  910. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  911. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  912. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  913. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  914. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  915. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  916. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  917. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  918. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  919. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  920. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  921. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  922. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  923. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  924. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  925. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  926. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  927. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  928. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  929. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  930. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  931. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  932. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  933. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  934. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  935. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  936. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  937. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  938. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  939. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  940. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  941. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  942. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  943. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  944. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  945. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  946. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  947. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  948. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  949. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  950. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  951. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  952. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  953. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  954. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  955. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  956. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  957. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  958. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  959. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  960. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  961. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  962. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  963. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  964. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  965. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  966. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  967. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  968. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  969. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  970. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  971. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  972. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  973. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  974. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  975. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  976. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  977. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  978. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  979. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  980. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  981. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  982. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  983. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  984. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  985. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  986. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  987. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  988. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  989. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  990. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  991. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  992. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  993. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  994. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  995. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  996. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  997. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  998. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  999. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1000. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1001. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1002. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1003. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1004. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1005. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  1006. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1007. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1008. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1009. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1010. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1011. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1012. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  1013. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1014. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1015. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1016. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1017. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1018. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1019. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  1020. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1021. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1022. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1023. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1024. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1025. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1026. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  1027. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1028. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1029. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1030. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1031. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1032. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1033. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  1034. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1035. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1036. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1037. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1038. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1039. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1040. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  1041. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1042. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1043. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1044. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1045. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1046. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1047. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  1048. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1049. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1050. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1051. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1052. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1053. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1054. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  1055. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1056. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1057. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1058. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1059. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1060. MSB on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1061. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  1062. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1063. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1064. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1065. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1066. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1067. Manuel São Bento on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1068. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  1069. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1070. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1071. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1072. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1073. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1074. Manuel São Bento on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1075. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  1076. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1077. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1078. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1079. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1080. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1081. Manuel São Bento on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1082. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  1083. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1084. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1085. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1086. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1087. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1088. Manuel São Bento on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1089. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  1090. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1091. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1092. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1093. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1094. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1095. Manuel São Bento on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1096. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  1097. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1098. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1099. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1100. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1101. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1102. Manuel São Bento on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1103. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  1104. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1105. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1106. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1107. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1108. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1109. Manuel São Bento on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1110. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  1111. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1112. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1113. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1114. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1115. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1116. Manuel São Bento on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1117. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  1118. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1119. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1120. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1121. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1122. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1123. Manuel São Bento on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1124. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  1125. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1126. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1127. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1128. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1129. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1130. Manuel São Bento on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1131. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  1132. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1133. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1134. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1135. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1136. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1137. Manuel São Bento on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1138. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  1139. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1140. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1141. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1142. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1143. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1144. Manuel São Bento on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1145. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  1146. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1147. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1148. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1149. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1150. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1151. Manuel São Bento on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1152. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  1153. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1154. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1155. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1156. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1157. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1158. Manuel São Bento on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1159. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  1160. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1161. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1162. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1163. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1164. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1165. Manuel São Bento on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1166. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  1167. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1168. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1169. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1170. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1171. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1172. Manuel São Bento on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1173. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  1174. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1175. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1176. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1177. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1178. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1179. Manuel São Bento on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1180. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  1181. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1182. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1183. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1184. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1185. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1186. Manuel São Bento on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1187. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  1188. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1189. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1190. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1191. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1192. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1193. Manuel São Bento on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1194. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  1195. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1196. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1197. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1198. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1199. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1200. Manuel São Bento on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1201. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  1202. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1203. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1204. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1205. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1206. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1207. Manuel São Bento on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1208. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  1209. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1210. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1211. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1212. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1213. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1214. Manuel São Bento on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1215. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi’ for short ) . . . . you’ll know it -Immediately- upon seeing it . . . . featuring “ever-fabulous” Malaysian Mega Star Michelle Yeoh ; who of course was one of the -Principal- characters in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, -As well- . { FYI : this is by no means intended to be a spoiler ; -several- of the movie -official- teasers & trailers ‘gallantly’ feature the said scene, albeit briefly }. And what’s more …( trailers also )… if you’re someone with ‘even the slightest bit’ of true passion for all things within the realm of sheer cinematic **-{ FANTASY ? }- ,** then you’ll be absolutely -delighted- to know that Shang Chi -Also- has a distinct ‘Harry Potter’ aspect to it . . . & if even -that’s- not enough for you . . . then, get this, its got a ‘full-blown dollop of Narnia’ thrown in there for good measure, at that. To be -Really- honest, it felt a bit disorienting , -At First- , seeing all “those types of elements” in an ‘MCU’ ( ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ ) picture, but then I suddenly realized that ‘Infinity War’ -And- ‘Endgame’ both -Very- prominently feature, well …{ a walking, -“Talking”- demolition derby of a, err, -“Raccoon”- }… in them, & I began to feel at home again, pretty darn quick.

    **2. ” There -Is- One ‘Stark’ Downside, Alas . . . . The MCU has had -{ WAY }- Too Much “Muddled & Obfuscatory” Messaging  Vis-a-vis ‘The Ten Rings’, Over The Years ” :** In 2008’s -superbly- received { and completely -iconic- } ‘Ironman’, which is where we were all introduced to the bespoke militant organization, ( ‘TTR’ for short ), for the -Very- first time . . . . there is an “Explicit And Unequivocal” reference to the film’s ( initial ) setting as being sometime within the  USA’s long ‘War In Afghanistan’, ( where the -Official- state religion is Islam ). Hence, by **-{ EXTENSION ? }- ,** there is the correspondingly “Glaring”, ( although tad more “Implicit” ), suggestion that TTR is . . . . . { from the immediately apparent ethnic backgrounds of the mostly Urdu & Arabic speaking members portrayed, to the group’s visually -Distinctive- flag, right down to the undeniably frightening ‘Imminent-Beheading’ type video featuring a thoroughly bruised & bloodied Tony Stark as its centerpiece ( all too reminiscent of the -Horribly- tragic & bloodcurdling news stories that we’ve been, sadly, accustomed to reading about, hearing about and watching over the years ) } . . . . . ‘yet another’ archetypal, classic “Islamist-fundamentalist” type group. When in fact, as is -Strongly- conveyed to us in -This- particular picture, ( beginning all the way with the trailers itself ), that this is simply -{ Not }- the case. The said militia does, of course, turn out to be, ( at its very ‘Core’ ), & by way of, this, its Origins-Story ; “Not Arab Or Middle Eastern -At All-” , but in fact . . . . **-{ ” 100% _CHINESE_ ” }-** . Certainly very confusing, -especially- for the majority of us, who -haven’t- read any ‘Mandarin vs. Shang-Chi’ comics . . . . . . . . . . Go Figure ?‍♂️ ?

    **3. ” Final Analysis ” :** -{ If }- you can get yourself to basically -Overlook- the aforementioned, & “Legitimate Inconsistencies” pertaining to Marvel’s cinematic representation of its Ten Rings Organization, then . . . . -Yes- , for the most part at least, you -{ Should }- believe all the “Rave Reviews” that this ‘Utter Delight Of A Movie’ has -already- garnered, ‘Globally’. A -Huge- Shoutout to its ‘rookie’ ( -relatively speaking- ) Director ‘Destin Daniel Cretton’, who”s been able to achieve this feat with, get this, just his -“5th”- Directorial-venture . . . Ever ? . What started as a humble yet impassioned little comic book effort about 10 very magical, & { Phenomenally Empowered Alien **” _MAKLUAN_ “** Rings } . . . by the “Truly-Legendary” Stan Lee & Don Heck in Feb. 1964 ( “Tales Of Suspense, No.50” ) . . . has now become the supremely enthralling “Fresh New Face” of Marvel’s ‘BOLD NEW ERA’ { that started with ‘Phase Four’ }. The film’s ‘Star’ is newcomer Simu Liu, whose portrayal of the outwardly nerdy-seeming yet immensely likeable ‘Shaun’ works wonderfully { not to mention all his ( ” Super ? ” )-impressive Kung Fu skills, of course }, with his ever-jocular best companion ‘Katy’, ( Awkwafina ), showing an absolute -ton- of heart, courage, & most of all, -{ ” Fierce ” }- Loyalty, throughout. Tony Leung, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Michelle Yeoh, & of course Shang-Chi’s Big, Fun, “Open-Surprise” …..the ‘one & only’ Ben Kingsley…. perform their respective roles with -{ ” Panache ” }- . So, all told, it’s going to be **” A Completely Charmed, Fiery 9.50 Marks Out 10 From Me . . . . ROCK ON, MARVEL ? ?❗”**

    Reply
  1216. T D Heath on

    **Shang-chi** is the 25th film in the marvel cinematic universe, it is deep without canyons of emotion but also comedic (with occasional comedic failures).

    This film embarks the MCU into a different world where tradition intertwines with modern societal problem,the film tackles this elegantly with a few stutters at the seams. As is usual with marvel property this film is a minefield of links to past and future marvel ventures, but is done in such a way that it truly can be an entry point into the extensive universe without having seen the others.

    The story develops slowly unwrapping the setting but it also serves to highlight the beautiful cinematic choices Destin Daniel Cretton has made, cinematic shots build to a grand climax with a sufficiently marvel-esque battle between relatable family struggles in unrelatable places and circumstances

    The end to the fight is satisfyingly predictable and leaves a numbness upon the audience because of the climax’s grandeur and its fizzle into the marvel trope of comedic endings.

    There are 2 Pre and post credit scenes who for the marvel enthusiasts add a great deal of pleasure adn completion to the story and set up the shang-chi subfranchise.

    This film through all of its achievements feels disjointed and only becomes a cinematic feat at its climax leaving the audience feeeling as if they could have missed the first 50 minutes and still understood the majority of storyline.

    This is an great feat of film through its inevitable cinematic, it is extremely enjoyable nevertheless.

    Reply
  1217. Per Gunnar Jonsson on

    I have to say that this was a surprisingly good movie. I say surprisingly because Marvel (or DC for that matter) have not exactly excelled in making even decent movies for quite some time. That the woke “critics” on Rotten Tomatoes gave it high ratings was a bit of a red flag as well but not only was the movie rather free from woke ramblings and preaching but it was a very fun and entertaining movie to watch.

    The movie starts off in a somewhat bizarre way with Shang-Chi and his girlfriend swiping a car from a valet parking and going for a joy ride. It turns out that they are telling their story to a couple of friends and that is pretty much how this movie is told.

    It begins more or less right away with some nice action and it continues that away with plenty of action sequences intermixed with story telling. The action and martial arts is really good in my opinion. They are in stark contrast to the mediocre rubbish we were treated to in Snake Eyes. The latter which was quite a disappointment.

    This movie relies heavily on fantasy elements with tie ins to Doctor Strange, especially towards the end. Another movie that I liked a lot by the way. Thus there are of course plenty of special effects and CGI. Most of them good or very good. I really liked the beautiful world of Ta Lo. The combat scenes, especially when the rings are in action are both cool and beautiful.

    There are quite a lot of comical relief in the movie as well and, for once, it is not to silly, outrageous or plain stupid. It contributes well to the enjoyment factor of the movie. The washed out actor is a bit on the limit but otherwise it works well with the rest of the movie. That guy on the bus starting to film and make commentaries was quite hilarious for instance.

    The story? Well it is a Marvel special effects movie so one should not expect too much but the story is not bad. It mostly holds together and works well enough to tie all the action together. The acting is pretty much the same thing. One should not expect too much but it is good enough. It was nice to see Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan though. She was one of the few cool characters in Discovery and she does know how to act.

    Overall I very much enjoyed this movie. It is a simple super hero and fantasy adventure story with lots of action and special effects and with the single purpose of entertaining the audience that doesn’t fall in the trap of trying to “educate” said audience.

    Reply
  1218. DallasBob on

    I’ll be straight forward with you; I’m old. And I have a great pleathora of movie viewing history behind these eyes. Me being old, I am bitter most times from jealously of lost youth and a firey contempt toward lazy boneheaded braindead youth of today. But I digress…the review.

    My review will be short as are my praises, while my critique shall be terse. Deal with it.
    This movie is not bad. I wouldn’t call it a waste of money to see, but on the same turn it’s not “OMG, I have to come see this again with Pauly.”

    The special effects (I’m old. Deal) are pretty good, specially when the hero vists the magical homeland his mother gave up gaurding to be with his father. The fight scenes, while they make an earnest attempt, are not Jackie Chan or Jet Li smooth but they are done with a compentent hand. (So much for being the first Chinese Superhero)

    There are only few downsides and those are the inconsistencies only a trained eye might see. If you follow the action and the movie you can simply dismiss them as “It’s in the script.” But if you are like me certain questions born of observation nag at you during and after seeing the movie. Such as, _”Is the co-star female sidekick supposed to be his girlfriend or sister?!?” “Why does she walk & sound like an old woman if they are supposed to be the same age???” “Why does the woman playing his sister look older than he is, but she’s supposed to be a few years younger???”_ I’m not kidding, the woman (While fit) is very UN-easy on the eyes in the beauty department. And that’s saying something considering how dainty most Chinese women appear. And my last “knit-pick” if you will, is that the studio called the rings, rings. They are not. They are bracelets since these are worn on the arms instead of the fingers. But I believe it was done because it was easier to do the special effects for them.

    The movie is not bad at all, overall. Good way to pass the time if you happen to run into it on a channel surf. But like _**Black Panther 1**_, not really considered a must-see.

    Reply
  1219. Sheldon Nylander on

    One thing that the MCU hasn’t been spectacular at is branching out into other genres. Most have been scifi/fantasy fare. An attempt at horror with “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Some more comedic entries like “Thor: Ragnarok.” “Shang Chi” is their attempt to bring the classic Kung Fu fantasy genre into the fold. And it sort of works. It’s not wholly original in the idea, but can be taken more as a tribute to the Kung Fu fantasies of old. There are some changes made to established Marvel lore, but nothing that couldn’t be lived with and accepted and really are necessary for the story. The story is good, not great, the performances are mostly good. The effects…are mostly decent, but there are some issues. The constructed sets are good, but the green screens are obviously green screens.

    The main problem this movie has is that it shines a spotlight on a problem the MCU as whole is developing, which happens in the comics and any long running shared universe: It’s getting really bogged down by its lore and interconnectedness. It not good for newcomers to the MCU and will likely only appeal to fans of both classic Kung Fu films and the MCU films.

    It’s good. It’s entertaining. It provides some new stuff for the MCU, but it falls short of actually being a great film.

    Reply
  1220. garethmb on

    The latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has arrived with “Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings”.

    The film introduces audiences to Shang Chi (Simu Liu); an easygoing San Francisco resident who spends his time parking cars and hanging out with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) and her family.

    Life is steady if unspectacular until he is accosted on a city bus by a group looking to take a pendant his mother gave him. When Shang Chi shocks Katy and the occupants of the bus with his martial arts abilities; he attempts to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang); who runs an underground fight club. While Xialing is estranged from her brother; their father Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) has conspired to bring them and their pendants before him.

    Their father uses the power of sacred devices known as the Ten Rings to rule for over a thousand years and destroys all who would oppose him thanks to their power and the army he has gathered over the centuries.

    Wenwu wants to revive their long-dead mother as he is convinced that she is calling to him and he wants to be with her as he was able to be a better man and forsake the power and abilities the rings offered him.

    When it is learned that Wenwu plans to go to a mythical realm that their mother came from and free her or burn the place to the ground; Shang Chi must make some hard choices between family and doing what he believes is right.

    What follows is an action-filled thriller with plenty of mysticism and humor. The film has a very engaging visual style that combines Asian and Western cinematic styles which results in some very engaging visuals as well as action sequences.

    What really sets the film apart from many Super Hero films is that the characters have a solid base to them as they have a complexity to them in regards to their past and their motivations. Their relationships with one another are key to the film as family, honor, and justice are key elements to the film but they are not given lip service but are developed well along with their characters.
    While the final act may be a bit FX heavy for some; I found it in keeping with the story and the characters and the great Sir Ben Kingsley provides some very welcome comic relief in his return as Trevor.

    Awkwafina is also great as she provides some very laugh-out-loud moments but is not afraid to mix it up when the situation calls for him. Simu Liu was very enjoyable in the lead role as he performed the physical aspects of his character well but added a restrained sensitivity to his character as he is a complicated individual who is conflicted by choices he made in his youth and the ramifications of them now as an adult.

    There are bonus scenes that set up future adventures well including one that will no doubt have Marvel fans heatedly debating when the film premieres.

    Once again Marvel has shown why they have had such a sustained success with their films as they have done a great job again of introducing a new character to the Cinematic Universe but also connecting him to their cinematic past and future.

    4 stars out of 5

    Reply
  1221. Manuel São Bento on

    FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/shang-chi-spoiler-free-review

    “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just became one of my absolute favorites of the entire MCU! Destin Daniel Cretton delivers an entertainment-heavy movie with arguably the best action ever seen in the cinematic universe. 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. Marvel gains yet another emotionally compelling antagonist, as well as a relatable female character that embodies many elements of the Asian-American culture. Despite an overreliance on unnecessary, excessive exposition devices (narration, flashbacks, foreshadowing), the story behind all the tales and legends never loses interest. From the breaking of stereotypes to a remarkable depiction of their culture, most Asian viewers will certainly love this film, even more than I do. Phase Four is off to a remarkable start…”

    Rating: A-

    Reply
  1222. RADIO1'S MR. MOVIE!-MAD AMI ? on

    **Take That ? ? DELTA-21 . . . . . . Marvel Studios Presents The ” _M o t h e r_ ” Of All Superhero -{ FANTASlES }- . You’ve Been Warned . . . . . . The Bonkers Level Here Is, Er, Well :
    ” _E X P O N E N T I A L_ ? ?❗” .**

    A **- _B I G_ -** Screen MINI Review. Viewed Sept. 5, ’21.

    ______________________________________________________

    Katy : “That’s fine…… you can just explain on the plane”. { Said to Shaun a.k.a Shang-Chi, marking a “sudden and unexpected” twist of events }.

    ______________________________________________________

    **1. ” So -{ MANY }- Upsides : “Crouching Tiger, Hidden MARVEL” { Gosh . . . . where do I even start❓} ” :** Ang Lee’s circa 2000 quasi-mystical Martial arts spectacular is the -Very- first film that came to my mind whilst watching a certain beautifully -{ ” Atmospheric ” }- segment of the opening-act of ‘Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ ( ‘Shang-Chi&