Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings - "Ta lo" ho!

 

 

 

Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

2021, English/Mandarin

 

Director - Destin Daniel Cretton 

 

Shang Chi - Simu Liu

Tony Leung Chiu-wai - Mandarin

Akwafina - Katy

Meng'er Zhang - Xialing

Michele Yeoh - Jiang Nan

 

Mohan's Measure - ⭐⭐

 

 A young man finds himself in a teacher who shows a greater meaning to his life.  He finds his long lost sister, and then proceeds to save the known universe with a set of eccentric compatriots.  Star Wars?  No, but it could be, as Shang Chi borrows heavily from it to create another epic story based on the Hero with a Thousand Faces.

 

Star Wars did it out of sincerity, to bring the dream of its producer/director, George Lucas, to the screen in a way it was never done before.  Using the latest technology and fine cast of actors, this movie remains the stuff of legend.  Shang Chi, however, does so successfully but for different reasons: to continue the now aging Marvel Universe, and to hopefully dignify the Asian American community the way Black Panther did for the African American one. As a result, the acting feels taken for granted, the CGI remains just shy of impressive. 

These ulterior motives take away from what could have been a clever introduction to a New Avenger.