“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” may be the latest addition to the ever-growing Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), but it can be enjoyed by anyone, from the dedicated Marvel fan to those just looking for a good film.
Personally, I’m an MCU fan, so I get excited for any new film or series that ties in to the huge, interconnected storyline Marvel has created. But I understand that not everyone has kept up with the two dozen films (and now the handful of Disney+ series) that are all a part of that storyline.
Thankfully, “Shang-Chi” both ties in and stands on its own. I saw the film with a group of friends ranging from someone who has read piles of Marvel comic books to those who’ve only seen a handful of previous Marvel films and everyone left the movie theater with nothing but praise.
Those who do keep up with Marvel will get excited by a few cameos and references that connect to the larger universe and will be anxious to see how the characters come in when we get to later movies. However, because it’s introducing a brand-new character, the film is a self-contained story, so you don’t need to have seen other Marvel films to understand and appreciate “Shang-Chi.”
The film itself is both a solid addition to the MCU and just a good superhero movie. The story has a balanced mixture of action, humor and emotion. The plot, while fairly simple, is quick-paced and engaging. The cast is excellent and creates intriguing and endearing characters. The visual effects are beautiful and the stunts and fight scenes are impressive.
“Shang-Chi” also stands out, both among Marvel films and superhero films in general, with its portrayal and celebration of Chinese and Asian American cultures and characters. Marvel has continued to expand its diversity as it expands its universe, sometimes with mixed results, but with general success. I firmly believe diversity and representation in entertainment are crucial, and I’m excited about how “Shang-Chi” contributes to both.
In many ways, “Shang-Chi” is exactly what I expected it to be — a fun, not-too-deep-but-just-deep-enough, visually beautiful, exciting stand-alone superhero origin story. It was all of that, in all the best ways, with the addition of incredible cultural representation, which makes it stand out to me as a great addition to the Marvel universe and this year’s best films.
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