Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) User Reviews

Surprisingly good

[topdog-64841 · 8/10 · 28 November 2021]

I'll be honest - Marvel movies are not in my top 20 or even 50 but within the Marvel "Universe" I would say that Shang-Chi is in my top 5. I know, it's blasphemy and all that but think about it - is it better than Iron Man? I would admit yes - it's origin story is arguably better, and it's characters are a lot deeper. The Mandarin is a conflicted man, with evil but good as well, like real life. Is this movie better than The Avengers or Ragnarok or Infinity Wars? Hard to say, which means it's right up there with the best (of Marvel) in my opinion.

Plus, I'm a sucker for Chinese movies with the Chinese language being spoken - 1 of my favourite of all times, if not my absolute favourite, is of course 'Hero.' The Chinese language and the artistry of it's culture are magnificent.

All in all, well done Marvel, director Destin, and all those who worked to make this movie a reality. This is not just your average summer action movie; it's close to being a Masterpiece. And the humour is pretty swell too!

Cheers.

beautiful science fiction, fantasy and action movie!

[justwen89 · 8/10 · 17 November 2021]

Everything comes in it beautiful science fiction and beautiful mythical creatures. Sometimes you have creatures that don't seem real, but these just seemed real. Well done! There was a bit of avatar feeling in it. Fighting for the safekeeping of peace. Really beautiful. And self-acceptance was also nicely incorporated.

Who knew a superhero film could be so beautiful?

[dominicwood-14504 · 9/10 · 4 September 2021]

I'll start by saying that if you're looking for a great story, you'll be disappointed. Shang-Chi is a pretty standard hero's journey at its core, which is a shame because the story could have been inspired by House of Flying Daggers and other wuxia titles.

So why a rating so high? Because where the story falls, everything else excels.

Shang-Chi is visually spectacular and a real treat for the eyes with some visuals that are incredibly distinct for the MCU. In regards to aesthetics, Black Panther walked so Shang-Chi could run a marathon.

The fight scenes are all amazing. There's one weak fight, but it's meant to be weak, and they're all very long, which is great to see. One of the early ones went on for a solid 5 - 10 minutes, which was unexpected but far from disappointing.

The first actual fight scene is my favourite in the MCU, and I was worried none of the others would top it, but they were all delightful to watch, and I was so glad they did a parallel of it later on. Either way, the writers went hard on the fight scenes and that paid off.

In summary, the story is lacking, but I'm glad in a way because that allowed everything else to shine. And shine, it did. I hope future directors take lessons from the aesthetics and choreography of Shang-Chi.

A new standard!

[mattmaddock · 9/10 · 2 December 2021]

The goal of an MCU solo film is to sell the audience on a new character and power system. This movie does both perfectly, within the first 30 minutes we are drawn to Shang as a character and that lasts throughout the entire movie. The fight scenes have love and care poured into them and I hope they bring this team back for future MCU movies involving Shang because they pay homage to old kung fu movies beautifully.

Not too bad...

[Em72 · 7/10 · 27 November 2021]

Overall this movie exceeded my expectations. I wish I had gone to see it in theatres because visually, this movie is stunning. All the fight scenes, especially the ending would have looked even cooler on the big screen.

But stepping back and thinking about the actual story, it's kind of random, predictable at times and I'm not seeing how they're going to incorporate it into the rest of the MCU.

The other thing is the fight scenes: the choreography, the cinematography, the effects, they were great, and I think they knew that, so they took advantage of it. During the first half of the movie there would be a new fight scene every fifteen minutes that looked fantastic, but seemed to last just a bit too long.

All in all I liked it. The acting was pretty good, the pacing was reasonable, the soundtrack was unique and the visual effects were a strongpoint It was a good movie.

Tony Leung Brilliant performance made the show more than incredible.

[yeokueipeng · 10/10 · 14 November 2021]

The cgi are rather mudane but Tony Leung Performance was simply brilliant.

Its like his eye can transmit the sorrow Simply brilliant. I think an award should be apt.

The henchmen were rather underwhelming as well but all is saved by Tony's performance Wish there can be more story on the dragon and the evil dragon.

Simu Liu Brought It

[darth_trek · 8/10 · 23 November 2021]

Really entertaining movie. Actors were great Simu Liu brought it big time he is excellent as the main character. Awkwafina is hilarious and I wish she had more screen time. As far as Marvel movies goes, it's not the best one but still very good.

Marks a bland start to the new phase of Marvel Cinematic Universe

[Sir_AmirSyarif · 6/10 · 24 October 2021]

Destin Daniel Cretton's 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' marks a bland start to the new phase of Marvel Cinematic Universe. It is a spectacle with regards to action sequence and fighting choreography, but the film misses a solid storyline for an origin story as its titular character lacks personality and does not go through any heroic transformation story arc. Simu Liu has a strong presence as Shang-Chi, yet he is overshadowed by many of his more experienced co-stars.

Worth a watch with family

[m-ramanan · 8/10 · 26 November 2021]

RATED 8/10 Language: English Source: Hotstar RECOMMENDED

The story and making is worth to watch in big screen with good sound system. The first half is filled with great actions and funny moments and it get into serious mode in the second half.

The second half is more traditional and sentimental....the decent story and colourful visual makes this so grand... Good movie to watch with family.

This could've been great if it wasn't for the cheesy writing.

[Top_Dawg_Critic · 7/10 · 11 November 2021]

The story was riddled with holes and plot issues. Since when does Awkwafina's pedestrian character all of a sudden get invited to become part of the MCU team? What's her super power... stupidity? Don't get me wrong, I love her, but her character was lazily written. Then there's the whole daddy issues dynamic - Shang is with him, then against, then with etc.. Then we have these ridiculous dragons fighting, where one scores some power crystals and becomes stronger! This is just infantile lazy writing. There was zero shock value or anything spectacular in the entire runtime, with tedious long middle acts and a bumbling third act. The jokes were cliched and not funny. The funniest parts were Ben Kingsley's character, (of whom was in this for what reasons??) and the ending to go Karaoke - which was the only time I actually cracked a chuckle. You'd think with three writers we'd have something cohesive and coherent. But instead of a Marvel superhero story, we got a Disney evil vs good with dragons thrown into the mix. It's as if they tried too hard to create the Asian version of Black Panther.

It's a shame, because the directing and cinematography were spot on, and great S/VFX - although a little overboard with the CGI i.e. Dragons. The martial arts choreography was outstanding (although again, overboard after the awesome bus scene), and the casting and performances were excellent, especially Leung, who pretty much carried the film on his shoulders. It's a 7/10 from me.

Sort of disappointed..

[daisukereds · 5/10 · 16 September 2021]

I got to admit I wasn't particularly blown away by anything in the movie.. I might even say "I was bored" by it.

Don't get me wrong.. it IS a spectacle! The action is great. The locations are nice, costume design, sound design, etc. But it is overall a soft release not worth seeing in theaters.. specially as a follow-up to what Endgame was.

The biggest problem for me, is how the underwritten lead has muddled personality (for reasons covered in the story) devoid of charm, personality or good dialogue.

The next issue is the humor, which didn't land for me.. Not once. The supporting lead Awkwafina isn't her normal "loud" self that's supposed to be funny every time she opens her mouth. Her role is very supportive and a little dramatic. And while I questioned myself why was she even there for, it doesn't ultimately matter. She is another forgettable character that is given more importance than the role deserves.

Finally, the third act is weak. There's a balancing problem with stakes. You can't feel tension or weight to any action. And there's a lot of superficial "I can't do it" until they can.

In the end, this feels like a very safe plot, written in a way to appeal to china (considering how the Mandarin is portrayed), that ends up appealing to no one specific. Certainly doesn't feel like a Marvel movie.. but it was bound to happen if we are to be introduced to different aspects of the narrative. But it also doesn't feel like a comic book. It's more generic than that.

Better than I expected!

[crom-dubh · 8/10 · 6 December 2021]

This was just a lot of fun. The story wasn't as tight as it could have been, but I found myself enjoying the whole movie regardless. The fight choreography was bangin', and all the action was just very well directed. Everything felt purposeful and exhilarating. The beginning of the movie feels like a straight-up martial arts movie and then as it progresses we get more and more fantasy elements working their way in which felt like a nice contrast. The music definitely felt like it added a lot here. I kept being reminded of how mixing different elements in with the more traditional orchestrated sounds really worked for Black Panther's soundtrack, and I honestly think this film did it even better. I think that, all in all, this is probably the best thing Marvel has produced since Endgame.

Amazing movie!

[marcel-107-170390 · 9/10 · 29 November 2021]

Truly an amazing movie! This movie depicts family very well. The visual effects are stunning, the martial arts are incredible, and there is just enough humor in it to relieve some of the darker notes. I can't wait for the sequel!

Loved it

[parkercpk · 10/10 · 21 November 2021]

Asian representation without compromising on storytelling. Great cinematics and CGI. Can't wait to see what the Marvel team delivers next. Perfectly executed!

Beginning of Phase 4

[melwinbauer · 6/10 · 23 November 2021]

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings takes place some time after Avengers Endgame is the beginning of phase four of the marvel cinematic universe.

Shang-Chi is an alright movie. It has some great fight scenes with some incredible fight choreography and epic large-scale battles. It is also has some good comedic scenes that made me laugh a couple of times. Where Shang-Chi suffers is when it comes to the plot. I didn't find the story very compelling and I didn't get that attached to the characters. It's a story that I feel has been done many times before.

Shang-Chi wasn't for me but it's comedy and fight scenes make up for some of it's flaws. If you are familiar with the Marvel franchise I assume you somewhat know what to expect and for you I can recommend it. Although the movie isn't that great, I still think it's good enough to the point of where it's worth watching just to keep up with the larger plot of the MCU. For those not invested in the MCU, I don't believe that this movie is the one you should start with.

something unique and fresh

[laviniadallam · 10/10 · 2 September 2021]

After 10 years of almost every movie being.armed combat, this one is fresh and the perfect start for phase 4 (yes, the start is with black widow but is something "old", too related to the previous phases), i loved every single moment, i got chills, i laughed. The soundtrack is astonishing, as the.cinematography. The best of the mcu if i may. Loved the colors. The fighting sequence leave you attached to the screen as they seem like they are dancing. All combined is something else, completely new and i can't wait to see more of simu liu as shang-chi because he was.brilliant.

Go see the movie!!

It was okay...

[jasminn_tan · 7/10 · 21 November 2021]

I really liked that the actors spoke their native language, Mandarin, because it would've felt too Americanized otherwise. But there was something unfinished about this movie and I'm not sure what it is. The pacing was alright, a little too slow or fast at times, and as far as storylines go, it was not as exciting as I thought it would be. The fight scenes were great though, especially the final grand battle scene.

Movie for children only

[lucaseduardoalcantara · 1/10 · 16 November 2021]

As an adult, I think this movie is a complete mess. The ancient master gets knocked out quickly while the car driver woman with 2 days of training saves the day. Everybody should point this as a big problem so maybe they would stop making this kind of situation in several recent movies. But people are always praising and giving good scores. I really can't understand. The film industry will not improve this way.

Fun and entertaining

[beachside-60315 · 10/10 · 9 December 2021]

Finally! A fun and entertaining movie without all the garbage Hollyweird offers. Great special effects and story line. Best movie I have seen since the Covid outbreak.

Awesome

[mvp-95349 · 10/10 · 14 November 2021]

Great effects. I have waited for the movie to arrive on Disney plus and I honestly am upset I haven't watched sooner! Great movie. The cast made the movie very fun and I enjoyed the Creatures and dragon!

So good!!

[catalinmarian-13885 · 8/10 · 5 December 2021]

The best marvel movie after Endgame. The story is a bit cliché but the rest is absolutely amazing. The fight scenes are the best in the MCU in my opinion. Simu Liu as Shang-Chi is perfectly chosen and all the other characters are nice and the all the actors do a good job. Act 3 is on another level that we haven't seen before in MCU and the visual effects are spectacular, by far one of the best origin stories from Marvel!

Overrated

[jamiestape · 6/10 · 21 October 2021]

I don't get how this flick got such rave reviews. So overrated it's not even funny. I rated this movie at 6 and I think that may even be a bit too generous.

SATISFIES THE HYPE!!!

[mhasnainzia7 · 8/10 · 22 November 2021]

What an amazing movie by Marvel Studios! I was hyped for the movie since the first teaser and the movie actually exceedes my expectations. Marvel has been showing its MARVELous magic since Ironman, and Shang-Chi is another diamond in the crown. After the end of MCU's phase 3, fans were eagerly waiting for a big movie. Black Widow was not up to the mark and Eternals also disappointed majority of fans, but Chang-Chi filled their gap. The action scenes were fresh and engaging. Martial arts combined with chinese mythological powers makes these action scenes more interesting. Character arc and story building were satisfying. They were not rushed or slow paced. Whole movie was engaging till the end. I would love to see another movie of this franchise.

LIVELY!

[AyonSahaa · 8/10 · 27 November 2021]

Watched the IMAX version! Best solo since Iron Man (2008)! I had no expectations of this before. But the movie is much more lively. Enjoyed every moment. And also very engaging from start to finish. A kinda Cute-Action movie with some fun stuff!

This is the first movie that focuses more on martial arts than Marvel's superpower thing. Love to see a mix of Marvel's MASTER-LEVEL-CGI with Martial art. Kung-Fu with this kind of visual effect! Marvel nailed it again.

I've always loved Marvel's casting. Katy is too perfect for her role. Loved her chemistry with Shaun. Also laughed out loud at her childish stuffs.

Just one thing, not a big deal, the action scene of 'Dragon Riding' doesn't fit into the usual Marvel movie. But as Chinese flavor, it is OK. Except for this, the cinematography and VFX are a lot mesmerizing!

An American Chinese movie

[william-eugensson · 6/10 · 13 November 2021]

I liked this movie, one of the first American movie where a lot of the dialog is in Chinese. The movie in it self is not fantastic but is has it's moments. I just can't stop thinking about why this hd to be set in the Marvel universe, it makes no sense to me...but then I am no Marvel fan. I think it would have been much better a completely chinese movie set in a different universe separate from Marvel. But hey, this is an American movie after all.