Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

A fresh MCU origin story boasting the franchise’s best action yet, with Destin Daniel Cretton’s first MCU outing packing a massive punch and new stars Simu Liu and Awkwafina adding heart and humor. The film distinguishes itself with precision martial-arts sequences while grounding its story in Chinese and Asian American culture.

The first MCU film led by an Asian protagonist succeeds as entertaining family drama with standout martial-arts action. Cretton excels at blending cultural nods and humour with innovative fight choreography.

The MCU’s first Asian superhero movie combines thrilling spectacle with cultural specificity to correct the comics’ racist past. It anchors its audiovisual bombardments and genre hodgepodges in incisive commentary on legacy, grief and identity.

It is a wonderfully entertaining, often emotional ride with a great deal of warmth bolstered by its excellent central cast. The family saga at its heart, anchored by Tony Leung, helps it stand out among Marvel peers.

The film is a rare Marvel outing that gets almost everything right, with excellent fight choreography, strong character work and an engaging lead performance.

Marvel’s first movie with an Asian-American lead is a grabby debut for a cool new MCU character that loses energy in the second half. It delivers thrillingly choreographed fight sequences and believable lead chemistry in its stronger opening section.

This down-to-earth trailblazer stands out among Marvel entries thanks to its relatable leads and strong emotional core. Hits outweigh the misses in this Asian-led superhero debut.

The movie succeeds as an origin story with strong family drama and action, thanks in large part to Tony Leung's magnetic star turn as the Mandarin. It notes that while not flawless, it rises above typical Marvel fare in key ways.

An uneven but entertaining mixture of fresh and familiar that works best when its MCU ties are least apparent. It starts strongly with excellent action sequences and delightful comedic banter but succumbs to effects-driven spectacle later.

The film is an entertaining romp with spirited martial-arts action and strong supporting performances, though it remains generically familiar as an MCU entry and somewhat formulaic.

A flawed but fresh spin on the superhero formula that attempts to remix old tropes with new perspectives through martial-arts action and Asian American culture but doesn't always meld its elements smoothly. The core father-son relationship and Tony Leung's performance ground the film despite its overstuffed plot and Marvel-mandated humor.

Marvel delivers an entertaining, visually flashy vehicle that effectively expands representation with strong early action and clever handling of its hero's backstory. It singles out the shift to bombastic CGI spectacle in the finale as a letdown.

Approximately half a good movie that treats Tony Leung’s Wenwu as more compelling than its hero, with Leung’s conflicted presence pulling focus as a mesmerizing tragic anti-hero. The film is at its fleetest in the first act but struggles as an origin story that feels racked with inadequacy about its main character.

A lot of fun with fast-moving, witty action and engaging leads, but the relentless jokiness hinders emotional depth. The film struggles to balance its cheery tone with attempts at pathos.

The film is unsteady and fails to fully develop its hero or use its supporting characters effectively, with action sequences that are often poorly executed. It singles out Tony Leung's charismatic performance as the father for praise amid the flaws.

Save for Tony Leung, the film is a bust, with Simu Liu’s affectless performance failing to convey Shang-Chi’s misgivings and the script rotely defining him through impostor syndrome. Leung brings resilience and vulnerability as the power-mad father, but the film’s laughable moral calculus and inability to hold a candle to its supporting performance undermine it.

The first half is a rollicking, witty action flick anchored by strong performances, but it collapses into tedious exposition and synthetic spectacle in the second half.

The critic praises it as a thrilling top-tier MCU installment and cultural milestone for Asian representation, with strong performances and elegant themes of family and identity. They single out the blistering, beautifully staged action sequences and visual storytelling in the fight scenes.

The critic calls it a fun, engaging MCU addition with a strong ensemble cast, clever action, and cultural weight as a new franchise direction post-Endgame. He singles out the father-son story, Simu Liu's relatable lead performance, and the gravitas from Tony Leung and Michelle Yeoh.

The critic calls it one of the MCU's strongest introductory films, highlighting the compelling family drama, standout performances especially from Tony Leung, and visual spectacle while noting some issues with supporting villains.

It overcomes a tricky origin story with ease as a fresh and infectious martial arts blockbuster that boosts representation. The critic singles out the eye-popping wuxia-inspired fight scenes and strong supporting turns, while noting the climax is slightly overbaked.

The critic praises the film's fusion of Hong Kong martial-arts cinema with MCU origins, strong character work, and dazzling fight choreography. He singles out Tony Leung's best-in-genre performance as the conflicted villain Wenwu for its depth and subtlety.

The critic praises the film's kung-fu action sequences as among the best in the MCU but criticizes the story for failing to make the protagonist a compelling individual beyond his general affability.

The critic finds the first half a strong action film and family drama but the second half falters with fantasy elements and a clichéd third act; praises the personal story, Tony Leung's performance, and the retcon of MCU history.

The critic finds it a mostly decent Marvel movie with strong action but one that falls short of its ambitions. They single out the kinetic fight scenes and Tony Leung's performance as the standout elements.