Marvel Studios finally introduces Asain representation into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with one of the strongest additions into it’s line-up. When “Iron Man” released in 2008, The Ten Rings organization kidnapped Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) teasing Shang-Chi and 13 years later it would come to fruition in “Shang-Chi and the Legend of The Ten Rings” (2021).

Xu Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) is the leader of the terrorist group known as The Ten Rings. His children, Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) and Xialing (Meng’er Zhang), run away to start their own lives. When Shang-Chi starts his new life, he meets his best friend, Katy (Awkwafina). After 10 years, Wenwu sends some men after their children to return them to him for a new mission unlike any other.

Director, Destin Daniel Cretton, takes a unique approach to this movie making it stand out from Marvel’s other films. Instead of making a Marvel movie, Cretton made a karate movie with a superhero twist.

Writers Cretton, Dave Callaham and Andrew Lanham, did a fantastic job at writing about the cultural struggles of immigrating to America. They show how hard it can be for a generation of Asain Americans who have to balance growing up in America while trying to bring honor to their ancestors.

Liu’s acting chops along with the chemistry from Awkwafina’s character creates a perfect balance in comedy and drama. Awkwafina brings in the much needed comedic relief when the plot starts to get too dark. Meng’er Zhang does an excellent job at introducing a strong feminist in the Marvel world to the big screen.

The orchestral score is lacking at major climatic points which makes it hard to get excited during major battles. However, the soundtrack helps make up for the lack of orchestral score.

The first two acts of the movie are superb, however the third act is where the movie goes in a different direction that is unexpected. Some of the third act is good, but some of it really struggles to find its feet. The movie does keep the viewer on its feet and brings many characters from other Marvel projects to set-up the future of the MCU.

This film broke Labor Day box office records making $71.4 million and is the second highest box office opening since theatres have reopened during the pandemic, following “Black Widow” (2021) which made $80 million in the box office.

Overall I really enjoyed “Shang-Chi and the Legend of The Ten Rings”. I do wish that some of the third act did not go in the direction that it did, but other than that and the orchestral score, it was really well done. Liu’s performance blew me away with how amazing he did. The fight scenes were fantastic and at times made me forget that it was a Marvel movie with its’ karate style cinematography. This movie is one of the most unique additions to the MCU earning it a 4 out of 5 Film Reels. “Shang-Chi and the Legend of The Ten Rings” is available to watch now only in theaters.