About the film (courtesy of Marvel Studios):
Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization.

Alright Marvel fans, this is what you’ve all been waiting for. Believe it or not, it will have been a whopping 794 days since the last MCU film released exclusively in theaters. Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019) served as the epilogue to Phase Three of the ever-expanding canvas that Marvel Studios is stretching across every media avenue that it can fathom. Unbeknownst to us at the time, business would have to take a backseat to a pandemic that affected every facet of life, including the make-believe ones that live on silver screen. Where many saw blockades, Disney saw an opportunity and used their vast resources to pivot towards a new evolved business plan. After all, the show must go on. And with that, they began formulating a new plan of attack that would see the few portions of Phase Four play out on a smaller, yet effective platform.

Disney+ has been the launchpad for some interesting pieces that will undoubtedly come into play as this new puzzle begins to come into focus. WandaVison, Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Loki have all been released in 2021 in a television series format exclusively on the new House of Mouse streaming service that would allow for some time to pass as we all try to wrap our heads around the best way to move forward both safely and intelligently. Then on July 9th, Black Widow (2021) released as a hybrid option – you could see this film in theaters or one could opt to pay a premium price to watch at home with Disney+ Premier Access. Honestly, this was Disney dipping their toe into the water to see what type of reaction would come of this from the public. Well here we are almost two months later and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings can only be seen in theaters. Let’s get into this review, shall we?

There is a big expectation curve that fans will need to learn to navigate. To put it simply, we have be accustomed to getting SO MUCH from the MCU in recent films in terms of the many well-stablished characters and collaborations that we’ve almost forgotten what it’s like to basically start from scratch. Captain Marvel (2019), Doctor Strange (2016), Ant-Man (2015) and Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) were the last to walk this path, but Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings feels more like a stranger than any of the previous titles listed here. The only familiar name is probably The Mandarin, previously acknowledged in Iron Man 3 (2013) and even that character is shrouded with mystery and confusion.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has a totally different stylistic vibe and feel to it, much in the way that many of us felt after seeing Doctor Strange (2016). The action choreography is fascinating to watch because it embodies the martial arts aspect and blends it with more of a supernatural element, not unlike earlier films such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000). Coincidentally enough, Michelle Yeoh is featured in that film as well as this new one. If you’re a fan of the physical elements of combat, you’ll definitely get your fix here. And intensity is heightened with the fantastical portion of things.

While there are several actors that you’re familiar with such as Awkwafina, Benedict Wong, Sir Ben Kingsley and the previously mentioned Michelle Yeoh, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star pupil is Simu Liu, a lesser-known face on the big screen that received most of his exposure on television’s Kim’s Convenience. Along with Tony Chiu-Wai Leung, Fala Chen and Florian Munteanu, a cast of talented actors assist in bringing this fantastic story to life that is stuffed with action, comedy and drama throughout.

The story builds throughout the 132 minute runtime and should give audiences enough to chew on and feel bored or overwhelmed. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a breath of fresh air that will give audiences something to enjoy without most of them already knowing its outcome. As someone that’s not a nose-in-the-comics viewer, I find these diversions from the more known arcs to be quite a treat.

All in all, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is exactly the type of experience that is best enjoyed in a theatrical environment accompanied by all of the loud sounds, impressive visuals and like-minded individuals that are seeking the same things that your are, an entertaining time. The latest offering is not at the of my best MCU films, but it’s more than worth checking out in theaters only when it opens Friday, September 3rd.