George Clark’s review published on Letterboxd:
I’m lost for words when it comes to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. The action sequences, beautiful culture and genuine heart that inhabits every corner of the film took me by complete surprise. I won’t lie, I didn’t know what to expect from Shang-Chi. The trailers never blew me away and despite the action sequences looking incredibly well choreographed, I had no idea how Marvel would fully utilise the Asian culture they were portraying. Yet they’ve done it again. The storyline is not only engrossing but impactful, holding characters that are not only interesting but incredible in every sense of the word, portraying the drama and humour well, not only landing but being, dare I say it, some of the best the MCU has to offer. The parental drama that lays at the forefront of the film works incredibly well with both actors, Simu Liu and Tony Leung, portraying a brilliant hero and easily one of the best villains this franchise has given us.
I don’t care if you’re a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe or not, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a film that deserves to be seen on the biggest screen possible. Sure it’s got it’s fair share of problems and the third act does fall into the usual Marvel formula, but I was hooked from the very start with my jaw hitting the flaw through many scenes. Shang-Chi is quickly shaping up to be a fan favourite. Destin Daniel Cretton has done a remarkable job making audiences care about a character many would know very little about. Let’s hope they introduced Fin Fang Foom in the sequel and bring back Wong!
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