*Spoiler-free*

Shang-Chi is the first feature film in ‘Phase 4’ of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which all occurs post defeating Thanos. With so many iconic MCU faces including Black Widow, Iron Man, and Captain America now gone, Marvel is tasked with the daunting challenge of introducing the new faces of the MCU for the foreseeable future. A lot of pressure was on Shang-Chi as the first introduction to a brand-new hero in Phase 4, especially because the Shang-Chi comics are relatively obscure. Luckily for fans, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings did not disappoint. 

Marvel fans and casual action flick viewers alike will be thrilled to know Shang-Chi boasts some of the most incredible fight choreography Marvel has ever produced. Most fights in this movie are hand-to-hand, and fight coordinator Andy Cheng does an incredible job mixing martial arts styles to create a blend that is visually stunning and almost dance-like in its grace. Especially for a franchise that tends to be heavy-handed with big CGI setpieces and battles (ahem, Avengers Endgame,) it was nice to bring in so much ‘classic’ action with the hand-to-hand combat. It is a Marvel film through and through though, and CGI is used in the final battle of the movie, as well as during sequences of an otherworldly realm, where it is, of course, good quality. I thought it was refreshing that most of the movie relied on the character’s hand-to-hand combat skills and not overly-CGI’d powers or suits. 

Marvel took a risk by casting a more unknown actor, Simu Liu as the title character. Liu has been in a lot of smaller projects, and pre-Shang-Chi was probably best known for his stunt work and Kim’s Convenience.  The risk, ostensibly, paid off.  Liu holds his own onscreen with the likes of Tony Leung Chiu-Wi and Awkwafina, portraying the slightly-dorky valet driver with a mysterious past to a T. One highlight of the performance is the way he banters effortlessly with the other actors. Through this he is able to give a clear sense of who Shang-Chi is at the beginning of the movie – someone unsure of his identity and a little overshadowed – to being secure in his place in his family, happy with his past decisions, and determined to do right at the end. 

This is a more personal bone I have to pick with Marvel, but I really appreciated the friendship between Shang-Chi and Katy and the way it was allowed to stay a friendship. Something the MCU has been guilty of in the past is shoehorning in love stories between two characters simply because they are a man and a woman who are friends. Oftentimes these don’t serve the plot in any way, and can even create messy, weird plot-holes or just plain ickiness. Yes, this is a callout to the Sharon-Steve kiss in Captain America-Civil War. No one wanted to see Captain America kiss his girlfriend’s niece. I really liked seeing how Shang-Chi and Katy were close friends who supported and bantered with each other and clearly had a deep bond, without forcing a romantic relationship on top of it. 

In the just over 2 hour movie, the writers managed to give us glorious action sequences, complicated family dynamics, comic relief, callbacks to other Marvel films that didn’t feel forced, and a cute fuzzy creature named Morris. I thoroughly enjoyed this film, and if it’s any indication of what Marvel’s Phase 4 will look like, I can’t wait to see what else is in store. 

I encourage you all to check out my friend Faith Chen ‘22’s own perspective on the movie as an Asian American –  A Review on MCU’s First Asian Superhero Movie and Its Impact on the Eastern Asian Community by Faith Chen ’22

Emma Barry ‘22, Ask Alice Editor 

22ebarry@montroseschool.org