Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings had a higher box office opening than anyone expected, and the latest Marvel Studios movie remains on track to break Labor Day records.
Needless to say, the introduction of the MCU's newest Avenger has been a rousing success, something that's evident from the reviews. Shang-Chi's solo movie is damn near perfect, and we have plenty of good things to share here. However, there are also a couple of missteps, which are similarly covered in our breakdown of what did and didn't work in the movie.
From creative decisions it's hard to fault to the odd character who outstayed their welcome, there's a lot to delve into here. It goes without saying that major spoilers do follow from this point!
To take a look through this feature, all you guys need to do is click on the "Next" button below!
Did Work: The MCU's Best Fight Scenes
Look, we know that Avengers: Endgame's final battle won't be bested for a long time, but in terms of fight scenes, it's definitely going to take a lot to top Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings!
Whether it's the opening clash between Wenwu and Ying Li or the bus battle with Shang-Chi and Razor Fist, it's impossible not to get caught up with the action on screen. You won't want to blink, and the intensity on display is a real credit to director Destin Daniel Cretton and the stunt and choreography team who worked on this one.
Even when visual effects come into play during the final act, Shang-Chi and Wenwu's fight is perfectly assembled, and a refreshing change of pace for the MCU in general. Crucially, the movie makes us believe that this hero really is a "Master of the Martial Arts."
Did Work: Another Inspiring, Unexpected, Casting Decision
With casting director Sarah Finn, Marvel Studios has done an incredible job of finding the right actors for these movies. That's particularly the case here, as Simu Liu proves to be another unexpected pick who not only does the comic books justice, but exceeds expectations in every way.
It's hard to imagine a better Shang-Chi after watching him in action, and that's a good indication that the movie got something very right when picking Liu to take on this role.
Of course, we'd be remiss not to mention the rest of the cast; Meng'er Zhang, Fala Chen, Florian Munteanu, and Michelle Yeoh are all superb, but it's Awkwafina who steals the show. So much more than just another annoying sidekick, she's an equal to Shang-Chi and responsible for many of the movie's funniest lines. We can't wait to see more of her in the MCU.
Didn't Work: Too Much Trevor
We're not going to deny that Sir Ben Kingsley's Trevor Slattery is an entertaining addition to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, especially when he serves a purpose in the story and delivers plenty of laughs along the way.
However, he soon outstays his welcome (and this is coming from someone who actually liked that big Iron Man 3 twist). We can't help but think there were better ways to reference the role "The Mandarin" has played in previous MCU movies, and the explanation that Wenwu kept him around like some sort of modern-day jester...well, it falls a little flat.
Some flashbacks explaining Wenwu's interest in Tony Stark would have been appreciated and a better use of time. Ultimately, this movie doesn't reveal what became of Trevor, but we're assuming he's still in Ta Lo. Hopefully, that's the end of his story in the MCU, though we'd love to see more of Morris!
Did Work: Two Incredible Post-Credits Scenes
Black Widow's post-credits scene was undeniably effective. However, there was nothing there that would be likely to leave your jaw on the floor. Sure, it did a nice job of setting the stage for Hawkeye, but this movie blows that away with two fantastic stingers that have us really excited about the MCU's future.
The first featured surprise appearances from Bruce Banner and Captain Marvel, as well as a hint that whatever being created the Ten Rings is now coming to Earth to find them. We're betting that means space dragons like Fin Fang Foom will soon be part of this shared world, and the scene nicely cements Shang-Chi (and Katy) as the newest Avengers.
The second, meanwhile, teases Xu Xialing's new Ten Rings, and something tells us they could become major players in Phase 4 and beyond. She's not the full-blown villain her father was, but Xialing and the Power Broker clashing in something like Captain America 4 would not surprise us.
Did Work: Overhauling "The Mandarin"
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings quickly establishes the role of the Ten Rings in the MCU, but glosses over that history perhaps a little too quickly for our liking. Still, that's far from the end of the world, and we really can't fault the movie for how it deals with "The Mandarin" controversy.
Simply put, that outdated, mostly offensive moniker for the villain is unacceptable today, and this movie goes a long way towards making that right by having Wenwu mock the fact that Americans were scared by a villain named after a chicken dish or orange. It's quickly established that A.I.M.'s Aldrich Killian was the creator of that name, and it's not one Wenwu has ever been known by.
Now, you might be wondering why we didn't mention Tony Leung while praising Shang-Chi's cast; well, it's because he deserves to be the highlight here. The actor was absolutely phenomenal, delivering one of the most layered, interesting antagonists we've ever seen in a Marvel Studios movie.
Didn't Work: What Was The Point Of Abomination Again?
This is a minor niggle, but one we still can't help but highlight. Marvel Studios made a point of including Abomination in the trailer, but what's in the movie itself is hardly more than what we saw in the trailers and TV spots. We certainly appreciate the reminder that this villain exists before he returns in She-Hulk, but it's a real shame a little more wasn't done with him.
Abomination doesn't even get to speak, though we do learn that Wong was seemingly helping him control his anger before returning The Incredible Hulk baddie back to a holding cell of some sort.
Has Wong been roped in to train or reform Emil Blonsky? Could he be the next addition to Val's Dark Avengers? Is She-Hulk going to be defending him in court rather than fighting him? These are all questions that need to be answered, but we do wish this cameo had been a little meatier.
Did Work: Insanely Cool Visuals
The fight scenes are a true sight to behold, but the visuals in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings as a whole are, simply put, stunning. It's hard to believe this is Cretton's first blockbuster because he proves himself a force to be reckoned with behind the camera, with the bus and scaffolding fight scenes prime examples of his action chops.
As we noted a little earlier, there are an awful lot of visual effects in the movie's final act, but they're still unlike anything we've seen from the MCU before now (rather than just heaps of explosions).
Whether it's the fight with the Ten Rings in front of those dragon scales or The Great Protector flying through the skies of Ta Lo, there's enough here to ensure that you will never feel like you're watching just another superhero movie. That's impressive, and we need more of Cretton in the MCU!
Did Work: Fantastic Beasts
We mentioned The Great Protector, but it's at this point in the movie things could have gone horribly wrong. Morris is undeniably cute, but all these CGI creatures could have ruined an otherwise badass story that focuses more on fighting than fantasy. However, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings makes it work... and then some!
This crazy final act is hard to fault, and the fight between The Great Protector and the Dweller-in-Darkness feels every bit as epic in scale as something you'd expect from The Lord of the Rings franchise!
It just works, and if Fin Fang Foom and his fellow Makarrans are indeed heading to Earth, then we'd love to see this continue. Of course, it's vital that these fantastic beasts don't overshadow Shang-Chi and his awesome fighting abilities, but this movie does a solid job of balancing those elements.