Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is an American superhero film done in 2021. It is based on the Character Shang-Chi from Marvel Comics.
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures is the distributor of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. It is the 25th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton.
Simu Liu plays Shang-Chi and other actors in the film include Awkwafina, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen, Florian Munteanu, Benedict Wong, Michelle Yeoh, Ben Kingsley, and Tony Leung. I
In the film, Shang-Chi is forced to confront his past when his father Wenwu (Leung), the leader of the Ten Rings organization, draws Shang-Chi and his sister Xialing (Zhang) into a search for a mythical village.
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The History Of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
A film based on Shang-Chi entered development in 2001, but work did not begin in earnest until December 2018 when Callaham was hired.
Destin Daniel Cretton joined in March 2019, with the project fast-tracked as Marvel’s first film with an Asian lead.
The film’s title and primary cast were announced that July, revealing the film’s connection to the Ten Rings organization, which previously appeared throughout the MCU, and its leader Wenwu.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is the first Marvel Studios film with an Asian director and a predominantly Asian cast.
The filming of this movie began in Sydney in February 2020 but was put on hold in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Production resumed in August before completing in October, with additional shooting taking place in San Francisco.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings premiered in Los Angeles on August 16, 2021, and was released in the United States on September 3, as part of Phase Four of the MCU. So far it has grossed over $432 million worldwide, making it the ninth highest-grossing film of 2021.
It got positive reviews from critics, many of whom praised the choreography of the action sequences, and the representation of the Asian’s and their culture. The cast was also praised for their performances, especially Liu and Leung.
A sequel is currently in development, with Cretton set to return as writer and director.
What Are the Ten Rings?
In Marvel’s comics, the Ten Rings are a set of highly powerful, magically charged jewelry pieces that gives the owner control over elemental forces. In truth, they’re neither magical nor jewelry.
These “rings” are actually pieces of an advanced alien spacecraft that crashed in a remote part of China centuries ago. The Mandarin discovers this spacecraft after being exiled from his home. He spends years studying the ship and the science that powers it. He finally harvests 10 ring-like fragments that power the ship’s warp core. He then turns them into deadly weapons that he controls through a psychic link.
The Mandarin is a villain obsessed with creating an image and spreading his legend across the world, even if that story doesn’t necessarily align with reality. He would have humanity believe he’s an all-powerful sorcerer standing up against the West and its technological might. But in truth, he’s merely benefitting from an even more advanced breed of technology.
What Is Shan-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings Actually About?
The story starts about a thousand years ago, Xu Wenwu discovers the mystical ten rings which grant immortality and godly powers. He starts the Ten Rings Organization, which end up conquering kingdoms and toppling governments throughout history.
In 1996, Wenwu searches for Ta Lo, which is a village said to harbor mythical beasts. He travels through a magical forest to the village entrance but is stopped by guardian Ying Li. The two fall in love, and when the Ta Lo villagers reject Wenwu, Ying Li leaves with him. They marry and have two children, Shang-Chi and Xiang. Wenwu abandons his organization and locks away the ten rings.
When Shang-Chi is only seven years old, Ying Li is murdered by Wenwu’s enemies, the Iron Gang. Wenwu with the help of the ten rings once again massacres the Iron Gang and resumes leadership of his organization.
He makes Shang-Chi undergo brutal training in martial arts but does not allow Xialing to train with the others, prompting her to secretly teach herself. When Shang-Chi is 14, Wenwu sends him to assassinate the Iron Gang’s leader. After completing his mission, a traumatized Shang-Chi runs away to San Francisco and adopts the name “Shaun”.
A few years later, Shang-Chi is working as a parking valet with his best friend Katy, who does not know about his past. They are attacked on a bus by the Ten Rings, who steal a pendant that Ying Li gave to Shang-Chi. Shang-Chi flies out to meet his sister, fearing that the Ten Rings will go after her matching pendant from Li.
He reveals his past to Katy, who insists on helping him. They find Xialing at an underground fight club in Macau, which she founded after escaping from Wenwu at sixteen. The Ten Rings attack the fight club and Wenwu arrives to capture Shang-Chi, Katy, Xialing, and her pendant.
They are taken to the Ten Rings’ compound, where Wenwu uses the pendants to reveal a mystical map leading to Ta Lo. Wenwu explains that he has heard Ying Li calling to him and believes she has been held captive in Ta Lo behind a sealed gate. He plans to destroy the village unless they release her. When his children and Katy object, he imprisons them. The three meet former actor Trevor Slattery, whom the Ten Rings imprisoned for impersonating Wenwu, and his companion Morris, who offers to guide them to Ta Lo.
The group escapes and goes to Ta Lo, which exists in a separate dimension with various Chinese mythological creatures. They meet Ying Nan, Ying Li’s sister, who explains the history of Ta Lo. The universe containing the village was attacked by the soul-consuming Dweller-in-Darkness and its minions but was saved by a Chinese dragon called the Great Protector who helped seal the Dark Gate to the Dweller’s world.
Ying Nan says that the Dweller-in-Darkness has been impersonating Ying Li to Wenwu so that he will use the ten rings to open the Gate. Shang-Chi, Xialing, and Katy join the villagers in training and preparing for Wenwu’s arrival, using outfits and weapons crafted from dragon scales.
Wenwu and the Ten Rings arrive and attack. Wenwu overpowers Shang-Chi and forces him into the nearby lake, then attacks the Gate with the rings. This allows some of the Dweller’s minions to escape, and the Ten Rings join forces with the villagers to fight them.
The Great Protector revives Shang-Chi to battle the minions. Wenwu and Shang-Chi fight once more and Shang-Chi gains the upper hand but chooses to spare Wenwu. The Dweller-in-Darkness escapes through the weakened Gate and attacks Shang-Chi. Wenwu saves Shang-Chi, bequeathing him the rings before being killed by the Dweller-in-Darkness. Shang-Chi, the Great Protector, Xialing, and Katy manage to kill the Dweller-in-Darkness.
Afterward, Shang-Chi and Katy go back to San Francisco, where the sorcerer Wong summons them to Kamar-Taj.
Wong introduces Shang-Chi and Katy to Bruce Banner and Carol Danvers.
While researching the rings’ origin, they discover that the rings are acting as a beacon to something. In a post-credits scene, there is a twist. Xiang becomes the new leader of the Ten Rings, training women alongside men, despite having told Shang-Chi that she was going to disband the organization.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings movie is dedicated to supervising stunt coordinator Brad Allan, who died in August 2021.
Shang-Chi Memorabilia You Can Purchase Online
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I loved this. This was such an awesome look at the kind of background of the ten rings. I mean, it makes you appreciate the movie and the thought that went into making it more.
As far as the movie goes, I 100% agree with the critics. It was so incredibly immersive. The choreography of action scenes was insane. I think the Asian culture in the movie felt so real. I mean, when you watch a movie, you sometimes get this sense that this doesn’t look real (and then, you recall that oh, yeah, it’s a movie). I didn’t have that watching this one. It was just insane and very, very real. I can’t wait for the sequel. Huge fan.
Loved the item collection you provided at the end of the article. I will have to go for one of those T-shirts. 🙂
Wow, I had no idea that Shang-Chi was in the works for so long! I’ve only heard good things about the film, but due to the pandemic, I have not wanted to visit a public theater to see the film. I’ve been waiting for the release on streaming platforms, which hopefully will happen soon. Sounds like one my family will enjoy!!
P.S. I wish you would have included a “spoiler alert” at the top of the post — having too much of the story explained before watching the film can ruin it for a lot of people!
Thanks for the tip Aly. I will add Spoiler Alert at the top for people who don’t want to read the story.
This was an excellent article about Shang-history, Chi’s and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
It makes someone who enjoys the film appreciate it even more. It was a big hit with my family. However, I am not a big fan of these kinds of films. But I know plenty of people who are and would appreciate the merchandise you’ve recommended. Thank you for taking the time to write this.