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

Shang-Chi peaks on a city bus in the first act, and the rest of the movie spends a reported $150 million to $200 million trying to get back there. That bus fight is legit great, all close-quarters kung fu and camera work that actually lets you see the moves. Tony Leung plays the father, Wenwu, as a sad, scary man who misses his wife, and he’s the best villain Marvel has had in years. Simu Liu is solid and likable, and Awkwafina is funny as Katy, the friend who keeps asking why everyone suddenly knows kung fu. Then the finale shows up. It’s a pile of CGI creatures wrestling over a lake while the humans who made the movie interesting get shoved to the side. It made $432 million worldwide anyway. A 7.3 because the first half is a real martial arts movie and the last stretch is a screensaver with dragons. $96 says you take the bus this week and size up which pole you’d swing off first.

What works: The bus fight and the bamboo scaffolding fight in Macau are top-tier action, and Tony Leung gives the villain real heartbreak.

What doesn’t: The finale turns into weightless CGI creatures brawling over a lake, and the character work that made the first half click gets lost in it.

Who it’s for: Martial arts movie fans willing to sit through one more Marvel sky battle to get to the good fights.