With 'Black Widow' being a prequel, 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' properly kicks off 'Phase Four' of the 'Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)' .
Much like 'Iron Man', the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' and 'Black Panther' , this was a character, and world, I knew next-to-nothing about going into his movie bow.
But Marvel has proved it can be trusted to dazzle film fans with its lesser known properties - and turn them into household names.
Simu Liu plays the titular hero, a master of unarmed weaponry-based Kung Fu forced to confront his past with the evil Ten Rings organisation.
Liu actually publicly put his name forward to star as Shang-Chi years ago and, in by far his biggest role to date, he finally gets his chance.
It’s a very important opportunity too as Marvel’s first Asian superhero - a challenge that Liu meets head on; you can tell he’s having a ball and he knows when to be serious and when to turn on his comic chops.
The script - co-penned by director Destin Daniel Cretton - follows the familiar Marvel origin story template but still feels fresh as it’s within a world the studio hasn’t explored before.
Mixing martial arts and mystical powers, the sensationally choreographed action scenes are among the 'MCU’s' best, which is quite the compliment, especially for a character’s first solo outing.
Awkwafina is hilarious and caring as Shang-Chi’s best friend Katy and it’s great to see Tony Leung ( Wenwu ), star of 'Infernal Affairs' , one of my favourite crime movies ever, in a major Hollywood production; playing an evil father could venture into very familiar territory but he masters a refreshingly complex villain.
Nods to the 'Iron Man' trilogy are cool call backs, and make sense, but the presence of familiar faces from previous 'MCU' flicks feel shoehorned in.
Shang-Chi doesn’t need propping up - he and his fellow universe newbies are more than strong enough to carry their own weight in an exciting, fun introduction that leaves you gasping for more.
● What are your thoughts on 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings?'
Pop me an email at ian.bunting@reachplc.com and I will pass on your comments - and any movie or TV show recommendations you have - to your fellow readers.
●' Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' is screening in cinemas now.
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