Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

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Edit Coming 06/22/26

While 'Black Widow' is the film that officially launches "Phase 4" of the MCU, I tend to see it as a bit of a Prologue to Phase 4, just as 'Far From Home' was something I saw as an epilogue to 'End Game', which wrapped up what was pretty much a long, ten year-plus experiment where they kept coming out with history-making material for the cinema. It was a long journey, but it makes very little sense to stop when there's so much more to explore with Marvel's heroes.

'Shang-Chi' is where I would consider the official beginning of Phase 4, as 'Black Widow' acts as a flashback. Here again we have a wonderful example of Marvel introducing us to a pretty tertiary Marvel character, overall, and doing it really well. In my humble opinion, perhaps the best job they've done with an "unknown" since 'Guardians of the Galaxy'. Not to knock the others in the category, especially titles like 'Black Panther', but this is the most strongly I've felt personally about the introduction of a new hero (or group of heroes) in the MCU since then. I wasn't really hyped for this, due to unfamiliarity, and the trailers had me curious, but not chomping at the bit. This was especially due to the latest 'Spider-Man' trailer, which honestly made me want to skip over this and 'Eternals' and just get to it.

Upon watching it, however, I am VERY happy that I didn't hold off. I can say with full confidence that this is easily one of my favourites of 2021, and it completely rinsed out any bad taste left behind by 'Black Widow' - a passable film, but perhaps too little too late, and underwhelming due to the overwhelming Covid problems surrounding it; including push-backs and, if you live where I live, it was Disney Plus only (for a cost) for quite a while. It now marks the only Marvel movie I have missed in theaters. By the way, if you have the means, and remain careful about it, this is definitely an experience for the big screen if you can manage it.

Our story starts ages ago, a man named Xu Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) happens upon the Ten Rings - ten bracelet-like rings that give their user Godly abilities, and immortality. He soon establishes the Ten Rings organization, who spend time throughout history toppling governments and kingdoms. Come 1996, Wenwu begins searching for a village of mythical beasts known as Ta Lo where he would have the potential to expand his powers. He is, however, held back by the village guardian, Ying Li (Fala Chen) and the pair fall for each other; Li running off with Wenwu upon his rejection from the village. They eventually have Shang-Chi (Jayden Zhang, as a child) together, and soon Wenwu raises him as a fighter to eventually do battle with the Iron Gang. However, with other plans at 14, Shang-Chi (Arnold Sun, as teenager) runs off to San Francisco to live an average life, adopting the name "Shaun" (Simu Liu, as adult).

When we first meet "Shaun", he's working a job, parking cars with his friend, Katy (Awkwafina). I give a massive kudos to the film for not making these two a couple, or romantic item in any way - just best friends. We get hints that there might be something there, but it's only what our imagination allows. It's always a breath of fresh air to see a man and a woman play our main protagonists and not have to think about anything lovey-dovey. They simply work and hang out together. But I digress. The bottom line is that we see them get attacked by the Iron Gang on a bus (during an amazing fight sequence, by the way). It seems they are after a pendant, given to him by his mother in the past. What they want with it, Shang-Chi doesn't know, but his sister, Xialing (Meng'er Zhang) has one too, so Shang-Chi and Katy travel to Macau in order to protect her.

I already feel like I'm saying too much, so I'll cut to the chase. We do eventually learn what is wanted with these pendants, who exactly is after them and why. As things unfold, we are given some incredibly well-rendered mythical creatures, amazing fight sequences in interesting settings, a taste of Chinese culture, including a lot of use of the language. The whole thing is beautifully filmed, and things just sort of flow as it all unfolds. There was a certain sort of enchantment the film had on me. It really managed to "take me away" from my reality, and it was cool to be somewhat immersed in the culture. This was the most pleasant of surprises in recent film viewings, and I can only hope that 'Eternals' has some kind of similar effect... though for some reason I'm not holding my breath.

MID-CREDIT SCENE: Shang-Chi and Katy follow Wong through a portal, in the middle of a meal out with friends. There, they are introduced to Bruce Banner and Carol Danvers who examine the Ten Rings' origin. Evidently, they act as some sort of beacon, but to what, remains a mystery. The pair are then told that their lives are about to be forever changed.
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POST-CREDIT SCENE: Xialing is shown as the new leader of the Ten Rings, despite having told Shang-Chi that she would disband the organization. Here, she treats men and women as equals in their training.

5/5

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