A number of Forbidden Kingdom sequences deliver muscular slaptick. A fight in which Lu Yan uses Jason as one more weapon in his arsenal of defensive moves is vintage Chan.
The Forbidden Kingdom (2008)
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Reviews Counted:123
Fresh:79
Rotten:44
Average Rating:6.1/10
Consensus: This hotly-anticipated pairing of martial arts legends Jackie Chan and Jet Li features dazzling fight scenes but is weighed down by too much filler.
Rated: 12A [See Full Rating] for sequences of martial arts action and some violence.
Runtime: 1 hr 45 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
Theatrical Release:09-07-2008
Synopsis: East meets West and kung-fu legends collide as Jackie Chan and Jet Li square off in the fists-a-flying, family-friendly FORBIDDEN KINGDOM. Based on the classical Chinese novel JOURNEY TO THE WEST,... East meets West and kung-fu legends collide as Jackie Chan and Jet Li square off in the fists-a-flying, family-friendly FORBIDDEN KINGDOM. Based on the classical Chinese novel JOURNEY TO THE WEST, the film begins in modern-day Boston. There, while teenage kung-fu flick enthusiast Jason (Michael Angarano) is buying bootleg DVDs from his favorite shopkeeper, Old Hop (Chan, aged by prosthetic makeup), he is drawn to an ancient golden staff. When a local bully forces weakling Jason to help rob Old Hop, Jason escapes with the staff and is magically transported to ancient China. He is soon rescued from the forces of the Jade Warlord by Lu Yan (Chan), a raggedy wanderer whose wine-guzzling ways conceal his kung-fu mastery. Yan reveals the truth of the staff, and that Jason is the fabled Seeker who must return it to the Monkey King (Li) to prevent the warlord's evil plans. The two are joined in their quest by a kung-fu master, Silent Monk (Li), and a beautiful orphan (Liu Yifei) who harbors her own personal vendetta. Despite their differences, the two masters teach Jason the ways of the kung-fu warrior. And when Lu Yan is gravely wounded by the warlord's sexy assassin, Jason must bring his newfound skills and courage to bear if he is to save one world and return to his own. Choreographed by action impresario Woo-ping Yuen (THE MATRIX, KILL BILL) and shot on location in China, FORBIDDEN KINGDOM is an appealing family adventure about the importance of working together and the value of believing in one's abilities. [More]
Starring: Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Michael Angarano, Crystal Liu
Starring: Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Michael Angarano, Crystal Liu, Collin Chou, Liu Yifei, Li Bing Bing, Ye Xiaokeng
Director: Rob Minkoff
Director: Rob Minkoff
Screenwriter: John Fusco
Producer: Casey Silver
Composer: David Buckley
Studio: Weinstein Company
Reviews for The Forbidden Kingdom
It's a long, eye-rolling haul...hampered by lurching exposition and hammy setup.
Pairing Jackie Chan and Jet Li would seem like a slam dunk, but this big-budget martial arts drama, which borrows liberally from The Wizard of Oz, is something of a disappointment.
The Forbidden Kingdom treads its path just right to please genre and action/adventure fans on both sides of the globe.
Kung fu purists may scoff, but escapists with a sense of humor should romp through The Forbidden Kingdom.
This is the long-awaited teaming of superstars Jackie Chan and Jet Li, and it's an occasion to applaud for those who like a few yuks with their kicks.
The long-awaited pairing of the 44-year-old Li and the 54-year-old Chan is a fizzle (they only fight each other once, early in the film) that makes you wish they had met up in their prime.
Where Rush Hour was a cash-in, The Forbidden Kingdom is a deliberate and loving homage.
The film tries to contain the best of two worlds - exaggerated, cartoonish comedy and disconcertingly brutal violence. Like Chan and Li, the two philosophies grind uncomfortably beside each other.
Chan and Li both deliver in their own unique ways, and there's enough action and humor to satisfy even the less enthusiastic martial arts fans out there.
It does not take itself too seriously but it does take the action scenes seriously.
The Forbidden Kingdom may not be a classic martial arts movie, but it's got heart, a certain sneaky charm and more than enough pure fun to make up for that.
The ever-impish Chan is perfectly suited to the wine-reliant wanderer and his agility still impresses at 50 ...a unique blend that offers something for everyone while respecting its origins.
It's too bad that the film isn't actually about Jackie or Jet; rather, it's about a bland, annoying, white kid.
Jackie Chan and Jet Li are true artists and watching them together is a real joy.
The Forbidden Kingdom is a movie that has Jackie Chan and Jet Li kicking each other. And that is why it is awesome.
Toto and Scarecrow were dropped from the project after demanding excessive residuals on the back end.
I don't care how tough and talented Jet Li and Jackie Chan are they lost me at Monkey King.
Latest News for The Forbidden Kingdom
September 09, 2008:
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April 20, 2008:
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