On September 3, the second film of Phase 4 Marvel Studios opens in theaters, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten rings, and it can already be said that it is an origins film at the height of other characters in the MCU
The new Marvel Studios film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, a Phase 4 film of the UCM that serves to introduce the Marvel Kung-Fu Master, a character who debuted, arrives in just ten days exclusively in theaters. in the comics by the hand of cartoonist Jim Starlin (the same one who created Thanos) and screenwriter Steve Englehart in issue 15 of 1973 Special Marvel Edition, a time when the television series was fashionable Kung Fu, starring the legendary David Carradine (Kill Bill) and Bruce Lee stood out as a great martial arts movie star.
The character was so successful that in Special marvel edition number 17 he was renamed as Master of Kung-Fu giving Shang-Chi his first series that he starred in until 1983, although afterwards, like other superheroes of the house of ideas, he has had new relaunches modernizing the character and revising his origins.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is an epic new adventure featuring the first Asian superhero from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. ShangChi, in an origin story that blazes on the big screen with mind-blowing never-before-seen action, breathtaking visuals, and the signature MCU spectacle, with heart and humor.
The film stars Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, whom we meet living in San Francisco and working as a valet, when a group of hitmen wears a pendant that his mother gave him when he was young. Shang-Chi and her best friend Katy leave their lives safe and travel to Macau to warn Xialing, Shang-Chi’s sister, that danger is coming for her too. As the movie progresses, Shang-Chi must face the past that she thought she had left behind. When drawn into the network of the mysterious Ten Rings organization led by his estranged father, Shang-Chi realizes that he must stop him and his Ten Rings clique.
The film also stars Awkwafina (Crazy Rich Asians, Oceans 8); Meng’er Zhang in her first film role; Fala Chen (The Undoing, Sound of the Desert from HBO); Florian Munteanu (Creed 2, and the next Borderlands); Benedict Wong (Doctor Strange, Avengers: Endgame); Yuen Wah (Kung Fu Hustle); Ronny Chieng (Crazy Rich Asians); Zach Cherry (Spider-Man: Homecoming); Dallas Liu (PEN15); with Michelle Yeoh (Tomorrow never dies, Tiger and dragon); and Tony Leung (In the Mood for Love).
Shang-Chi and the legend of the ten rings by Marvel Studios is produced by Kevin Feige and Jonathan Schwartz and directed by Destin Daniel Cretton (Just Mercy, The Glass Castle). Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso and Charles Newirth are the executive producers. The screenplay is by Dave Callaham and Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Lanham, with screen history by Dave Callaham and Destin Daniel Cretton.
Director Cretton’s creative team includes director of photography Bill Pope (The Matrix Trilogy, Spider-man 2); production designer Sue Chan (Shirley); editors Nat Sanders, ACE (Moonlight, Just Mercy), Elísabet Ronaldsdóttir, ACE (John Wick, Atomic Blonde) and Harry Yoon, ACE (Minari, Euphoria); costume designer Kym Barrett (The Amazing Spider-Man, Three Kings); visual effects supervisor Christopher Townsend (Avengers: Age of Ultron, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 ); with music by Joel P West (Just mercy).
The origins movie, takes place shortly after the lapse, when everyone returned after the snap of Hulk / Bruce Banner, and is quite faithful to the history of the comics, the story runs through the entire life of the titular hero in a very organic way that helps us to better understand the character and his motivations to flee from a past that ends up finding him.
Of course, it has countless Easter eggs and nods to the UCM movies, the most important of which are references to iron Man 3 (last time that the ten rings had a leading role), explaining the origin of the false Mandarin played by Ben Kingsley that aroused so much controversy with the premiere of that film and that somehow was redeemed in the short All Hail the King. As well as the role of the organization of The ten rings in her.
It can be said that Shang-Chi is an origins film at the height of the first film of Hombre de Hierro and higher than Black panther, on a visual level it is a delight that can remind movies like Tiger and dragon, which has a good balance between storytelling and incredible action scenes, which are a tribute to martial arts movies starring Jackie Chan.
The protagonists are all very well in general terms, although the role of Tony Leung should be highlighted, who offers a very interesting vision of the villain with many nuances.
As for its two post-credits scenes, they leave it on track like the first movie of Hombre de Hierro the future of the next phases of the UCM.
Shang-chi and the legend of the ten rings
Synopsis: In Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings we follow Shang-Chi, confront his past after an encounter with the Ten Rings, the same terrorist group that is behind Tony Stark’s kidnapping in Iron Man. Shang-Chi must face the past that he thought he had left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization.
Director (s): Destin Cretton
Cast: Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Michelle Yeoh, Fala Chen, Florian Munteanu, Ronny Chieng, Dallas Liu, Tim Roth, Benedict Wong, Meng’er Zhang, Fernando Chien, Kelli Bailey
Gender : Superheroes, Fantasy, Action