Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 09/09/2008 Run time: 104 minutes Rating: Pg13
Getting martial-arts superstars Jet Li and Jackie Chan together in the same action film is like a fantasy come true, even if The Forbidden Kingdom is more of a children's movie than an instant kung-fu classic. Yes, Li and Chan square off in a lengthy, acrobatic fight scene that is a lot of fun, though it can't be what such a scene might have been even a decade ago: careful editing now compensates for the 54-year-old Chan's slower moves and reflexes. Still, Chan doesn't disappoint as Lu Yan, a drunken immortal in ancient China who mentors a modern-day American kid, Jason (Michael Angarano), the latter having slipped into the past while in possession of a magical staff that belongs to the imprisoned Monkey King (Li). In order to get back to his own time and help an old friend (also Chan) wounded by thugs, Jason accompanies Lu Yan and a lovely warrior, Golden Sparrow (Liu Yifei), on a journey to return the staff. Along the way, a (mostly) silent monk (Li, again), who has spent his life in search of the staff, joins their mission. He helps Lu Yan train Jason in fighting and adding more muscle to the party as it comes under siege from a violent witch (Li Bing Bing) and pathological warlord (Collin Chou). Screenwriter John Fusco (Hidalgo) and director Rob Minkoff (The Haunted Mansion) have made a slightly chintzy, Western version of a Chinese swords-and-sorcery tale. The gravity-defying, flying-through-the-air-while-fighting choreography looks pretty choppy and graceless compared to, say, the martial arts films of Zhang Yimou. But The Forbidden Kingdom is really aimed at kids, not aficionados of epic fight movies. On that score, the movie aims to please and does so for the right audience. -- Tom Keogh
Beyond The Forbidden Kingdom on DVD
The Forbidden Kingdom Soundtrack
The Forbidden Kingdom on Blu-rayk
Stills from The Forbidden Kingdom (click for larger image)
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 3.5 / 5.0
Very good!:
I enjoyed seeing Jackie Chan and Jet Li on screen at the same time. The movie is very engaging, and the martial arts are top rate.
If I had any complaint it would be that it was just too short.
Fun & silly Kung Fu fantasy:
Jackie Chan makes a great drunken mystic, and Jet Li is as good as ever in this very entertaining film. The setpieces are great and there are quite a few good laughs involved in this movie. It is aimed at kids, but it's still good fun and well worth watching.
Definitely for a younger audience ...:
I love me some Crouching Tiger-ish Kung Fu movies. I've had my eye on The Forbidden Kingdom since it came out, considering the film teamed up Jet Li AND Jackie Chan- two favs for me!- in a fantasy type period piece. I, for one, wasn't disappointed although, because it seems to be targeting a younger audience doesn't hit the caliber of some other recent martial arts films to hit the theaters. The story begins with a young boy named Jason who dreams of Kung Fu epic battles every night. He's even... more info
The Forbidden Kingdom:
A nice light fantasy adventure movie with some Kung Fu fighting thrown in as well. This is not meant to be a serious kick tail Kung Fu movie. If you thought that you will be disappointed. It is much more serious than "Karate Kid", but it has a fair amount of humor thrown in initially. It is meant to be a movie the family can enjoy and they will. A nice mix of modern and ancient with East meets West. Good casting with Michael Angarano as the Jersey American thrown into the past, where he meets three masters... more info
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