First appearing when the MCU began with Iron Man, Destin Daniel Cretton gives mysterious organisation the feature-length treatment.
Simu Liu - Xu Shang-Chi/Shaun
Awkwafina - Katy/Ruiwen
Meng'er Zhang - Xu Xialing
Fala Chen - Ying Li
Florian Munteanu - Razor Fist
Michelle Yeoh - Ying Nan
Ben Kingsley - Trevor
Tony Leung - Xu Wenwu
Summary
Several millennia ago, Wenwu found ten rings and used mystical weapons to assemble an army.
In 1996, Wenwu has two kids (Shang-Chi and Xialang) by Ta Lo's village guardian Ying Li.
Li is murdered by Wenwu's enemies the Iron Gang. After intense training, Wenwu sends Shang-Chi to assassinate their leader, and succeeds. However, this leaves him traumatised and young pup flees to San Francisco, going under the name of 'Shaun'.
Present day.
After Shang-Chi clashes with Ten Rings assassins, Wenwu (aka Mandarin) tells estranged family that Li's 'told' him she's trapped behind a sealed gate in Ta Lo.
When children object to plans of burning village down, he turns nasty.
Having safely negotiating deadly forest, Ta Lo's leader and Li's sister Ying Nan informs that Wenwu has actually been manipulated by soul-eating dragon Dweller-in-Darkness, as monster knows the power of ten will destroy gate.
Better hurry guys, the clock's ticking.
Mid-credits
Inside the Sanctum Sanctorum, Shang-Chi, Katy and Wong chat with Carol Danvers and Bruce Banner, who reveal the rings are emitting a signal.
Perhaps threat is from another dimension?
Post-credits
Xialing has taken over her father's mantle.
Also, 'the Ten Rings will return' is displayed.
Rings of quality
Marvel does Crouching Tiger, Kung Fu Hustle, Ip Man etc etc.
Performances are great and we relate to Tony Leung's pseudo villain.
Humour (sometimes ironic), is not cheesy and characters never irritate.
Martial arts sequences are immaculately choreographed and ooze energy.
Bus fight has already become quite a thing, and rightly so.
Clichéd story, second half taking a nosedive and CG-heavy climax means it's not perfect, but definitely in my Marvel top 10.
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