Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (5.5/10)
Genre: Superhero/Action
Director: Destin Daniel Cretton
Cast: Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Tony Chiu-Wai Leung
Country: USA
Language: English/Mandarin
Year: 2021

While fans are trolling Ridley Scott for his recent comments on superhero movies, I'm slowly starting to resonate with his statement as well as Scorsese, who made a similar statement a while back. 

After Netflix destroyed Marvel's most anticipated martial arts character, Marvel Studios decided to put their bets on Shang-Chi, which paid off well since its release with lots of praise and a satisfactory box office collection. I don't know anything about Shang-Chi, so my ignorance about the character may have hindered enjoying this movie. I  wasn't fascinated after watching this film's trailer, and somehow my presumptions were correct. 

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is not obnoxious nor a definitive superhero film. It inculcates Marvel's formula with repetitive anecdotes, and after all the hype since the film's release, I'm a little disappointed. 

On the positive side, appearances by some of the most renowned actors from the Hong Kong film industry worked well in the film's favor, although most have sporadic appearances apart from Tony Chiu-Wai Leung. On the downside, the middling visual effects are a big downer, especially during the climax scenes. The trademark Marvel punchlines don't humor me anymore, but the most disappointing part is the action. While the initial action sequences were nods to Hong Kong action cinema, it gradually becomes oversaturated with CGI and loses charm. 

The return of characters like Ben Kingsley's Trevor Slattery, Benedict Wong as Wong, and Abomination is a complete waste. However, it might be a teaser of what's coming next in the MCU. The screenplay is flawed, and a run-time of more than two hours is a bit of an overkill.

The story shows Shang-Chi battling his estranged father, who gets manipulated by an ancient evil. 

Simu Liu joins the long list of actors who became an overnight sensation after landing the leading role in a Marvel project. His acting still needs a lot of work. Awkwafina's comedy and jokes don't humor me at all. Meng'er Zhang, Florian Munteanu, Andy Le, and others fill the supporting roster while Michelle Yeoh, Yuen Wah, and other Hong Kong actors complete the Asian cast. 

In my opinion, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is yet another example of Disney's exuberant advertising and media promotion, which attracts global audiences and favorable reviews, but as a film it is nothing more than glamorizing mediocre movie.