Individually, they've starred in the most adrenaline-pumping martial-arts adventures ever. Together for the first time, Jet Li and Jackie Chan join forces to create the greates epic of them all- THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM. As ancient Chinese warriors, they must train and mentor a 21st century kung-fu fanatic who's been summoned to fight a centuries-old battle and free the imprisoned Monkey King. If you're a fighting fan, the wait is over. The team is ready. The Kingdom has arrived.
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
Stills from The Forbidden Kingdom (click for larger image)
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Good movie:
The Forbidden Kingdom contains ancient martial arts, good storyline, Taoist wisdom, and supernatural abilities. It has great special effects and costumes. I like all of this so I enjoyed this movie. If you like this as well, you will probably enjoy this movie too.
Family friendly entertainment:
This is a fun teen-age martial arts wish fulfillment movie. The production values are wonderful, the acting and direction are excellent, and the plot line is well developed and takes you to a good wrapup of all the plotlines. There is good character development as the kid discovers strength inside himself and becomes a hero (that's the wish fulfillment part). In all, a nifty movie, and one for the whole family.
Despite the flaws highly entertaining:
The Forbidden Kingdom marks the very first time in the Iconic careers of Jet Li and Jackie Chan that they have worked together; fans of both these superstars are bound to have high expectations, but keep in mind this is an American production and in general Li and Chan, while making some good movies in the States they don't hold a candle to their Hong Kong flicks. But despite any flaws The Forbidden Kingdom makes a solid flick for these two Icons to team up together. Who knew it would take this long? One... more info
Amazing!:
What a fabulous film - stunts and scenes were something else. A must see film.
Amand.
