Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

A magical road trip to some much-needed pastures new within the Marvel Universe. With the last Phase, our MCU regulars more or less finished with their own arcs culminating, in the Infinity Saga. New blood and a new generation would be needed to fly Marvel's banner for its next phase. But where to next? Enter now a more wuxia fantasy-infused Chinese centric backdrop to explore,with in Shang Chi. Weaving Magic, culture, and Martial arts, action-comedy it gets the balancing act right. Credit to director Destin Daniel Cretton for pulling this off. The title character Shang-Chi played by Simu Liu reconnects reluctantly with this dark past and legacy of this Mafia Father (Tony Leung )in an effort to uncover the fate of this Mother and his Legacy. A sad love affair is uncovered and serves as a backdrop and one of the more interesting motives to the actions of a Marvel Villain for once. Accompanying Shang Chi’s on his journey is best friend Katy, played by Awkwafina, is the film’s saving grace. Putting a pin in the fantastical ridiculously of it all with her trademark wit, but reminding us to have fun along the way. The lead Simu Liu is serviceable enough. And like a quiet eye of the storm in the middle of the off the wall characters and creatures and world-building,that is constantly going on around him. Including a cast of some acting greats of Hong Kong cinema such as Michelle Yeoh, adding a graceful gravitas, as always. The star of this show, however, is the new World itself, and the MCU Worldbuilding machination never lets you forget it, right up to the final, and post Credits. It lays down the groundwork and is intriguing enough to see how it fits in with Marvel’s new Puzzle in future instalments.