This past weekend, I was able to go see the latest film from Marvel Studios, the highly anticipated Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. I’ve been a Marvel fan since I was a young kid, so I was super thrilled and excited to hear that Marvel was releasing another movie, this time about a superhero I didn’t know. So, I kept my hopes up, and this movie delivered to every expectation. So, I wanted to share some of my favorite highlights from the film, and if you haven’t seen it yet, consider this your spoiler warning.
The stunts were amazing
Of course, the keystone to any superhero movie is the action sequences, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out after the movie that the actor for Shang-Chi, Simu Liu, did most of his stunts himself. He even posted a BTS of the bus sequence on his Instagram page, showing how much hard work he put in for the role.
Additionally, the battle sequences were some of my favorite scenes, as the special effects really added to the mythical world that Shang-Chi was set in. I really enjoyed how Shang-Chi was able to use both the rings and his mother’s abilities in the end, and the editing really sold the whole movie.
The Representation was key
One thing I was excited about before watching was the amount of Asian representation in the movie. This was Marvel’s first superhero movie that had an Asian main character, so it was really nice to see the representation front and center on the silver screen. The cast was also star-studded with other well known actors and actresses, such as Awkwafina and Michelle Yeoh. Hopefully we get to see more movies like this from Marvel, and Hollywood in general.
The Plot
As much as special effects can help a movie out, a stable plot is a good sign of any film. I felt like the plot of Shang-Chi was well balanced between his backstory, the current threat of his dad also being the villian, and the epic showdown between the two at the end. I also loved the development of Awkwafina’s character, as she went from being his friend to helping take down the evil creature with a dragonscale bow at the end. Of course, since it’s a Marvel movie, they left the movie off on a good spot for a sequel, so I can’t wait to see Shang-Chi again as a recurring hero.
Though these are just my highlights from watching the movie, I highly recommend you go see it (or see it again, which I definitely will do) as it’s a great addition into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and features a great cast with amazing representation.