I just attended an opening night premier of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. As I left the theater I had the same feeling as I did when I watched the first Thor movie. Just kind of meh….
And maybe that’s how it is going to be as we rebuild the next steps of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and develop an emotional connection with these new characters. I’m willing to give Marvel the benefit of the doubt though. They’ve earned my trust.
Synopsis Of The Film
The movie begins with Shaun, played by Simu Liu, along with his best friend Katy, played by Awkwafina, as typical twenty-somethings trying to find their way in the world. Unexpectedly, Shaun must ward off a team of assassins on a moving bus and the world then discovers there is something unusual about “Shaun”. He is not just Shaun the valet driver. Shaun is actually Shang-Chi whose mother happens to be a martial arts artist from a different dimension and father is a centurys-old owner of the all-powerful 10 Rings.
What ensures is an updated Marvel-version of Karate Kid 2 as Shang-Chi returns to his homeland to protect his sister Xialing and extended family from assassins, a mystical forest, dragons, demons, and their father himself. I’m not kidding. That’s a lot. While the closing battle scene is underwhelming and too long, the fight scenes on the San Francisco bus and scaffolding of a high-rise building are fantastic!
If there was any foul language I missed it. Also, there is not even a hint of sexuality. So feel free to take the entire family.
Like Thor, this movie may age well, especially when it is placed in context of a larger story as hinted by the post-credit scenes. So go see it this weekend and have a great time.
The following are 17 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings:
- “Love had other plans.” – Shang-Chi’s parents both gave up their god-like powers after meeting each other and choosing a simpler, more domesticated life. I would have made the same decision.
- “The art of confusion works on stupid people.” – Katy
- Struggle Is Necessary For Strength – Wenwu put his son Shang-Chi through extensive and painful training sessions to prepare him to be a Ninji warrior.
- Leaders Are Bleeders – During training, a young Shang-Chi punched wood so hard, so long, and so often his knuckles bled. Leaders theoretically have to do the same thing to be successful.
- We All Have Daddy Issues – To say Wenwu and Shang-Chi had a dysfunctional relationship would be an understatement. In fact, it was so toxic that the two of them had the climatic battle over ownership of the 10 Rings.
- Wenwu told Shang-Chi, “You can’t outrun who you really are.”
- Your Personal Leadership Affects Your Family – Your decisions are not made in isolation. Because of decisions made in his past, it caused Wenwu’s wife and Shang-Chi’s mother to be murdered.
- Unto Much It Given Much Is Required – Wenwu added, “I gave you ten years to live your life. And where did that get you? You walked in my shadow. I trained you so the most dangerous people in the world couldn’t kill you.”
- Disengaged Parents Leave An Unfortunate Legacy – After being captured by Wenwu, Katy asked Xialing what to do next. She said, “Nod. Don’t talk. He’ll forget you’re here. That’s how I survived.”
- Smart People Learn From The Successes And Failures Of Others – To learn her proficient fighting skills, Xialing added, “I watched how the boys trained and then did it better.”
- You Are Responsible For Your Own Personal Growth And Development – Xialing concluded, “If my dad won’t let me into his empire, I’ll build my own.”
- Leadership Is Both Mental And Physical – Wenwu advised Shang-Chi, “You have to strengthen your mind as well as your body.”
- Leadership Should Be Earned Not Gifted – Wenwu to an infant Shang-Chi, “Throughout my life, the Ten Rings gave our family power. If you want them to be yours one day, you have to show me you are strong enough to carry them.”
- The Importance Of Focus And Goal Setting – During her archery training, Katy was advised, “If you aim at nothing, you hit nothing.”
- Everyone Must Sit Down To A Banquet Of Their Own Consequences – Shang-Chi said, “I thought I could change my name, start a new life.”
- Shang-Chi’s aunt Jiang Nan told him, “You are a part of all who came before you.. A product of the good and bad. Stop hiding. It only prolongs the pain.”
- All Wells That Ends Well – The post credit scene with Wong, Captain Marvel, Bruce Banner, and a mysterious beacon clearly gets you excited about where this story of the 10 Rings is going. Maybe it’s not meh after all!
Once again, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a solid movie. Have a great time and start getting ready for The Eternals.
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