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Movies / On DVD / The Forbidden Kingdom
The Forbidden Kingdom

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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

[See More Credits]

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1 - 4 of 8

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Reviews for The Forbidden Kingdom

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61 - 80 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

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.

Full Review Source: Denver Post | comment Comment
04/18/08
Lisa Kennedy
Lisa Kennedy
Denver Post

It's a long, eye-rolling haul...hampered by lurching exposition and hammy setup.

Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
04/18/08
Tasha Robinson
Tasha Robinson
Chicago Tribune

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.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment 1 Comment
04/18/08
Joshua Katzman
Joshua Katzman
Chicago Reader

The Forbidden Kingdom treads its path just right to please genre and action/adventure fans on both sides of the globe.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
04/18/08
Wade Major
Wade Major
Boxoffice Magazine

Kung fu purists may scoff, but escapists with a sense of humor should romp through The Forbidden Kingdom.

Full Review Source: Baltimore Sun | comment Comment
04/18/08
Michael Sragow
Michael Sragow
Baltimore Sun

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.

Full Review Source: Toronto Star | comment Comment
04/18/08
Peter Howell
Peter Howell
Toronto Star

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.

Full Review Source: Salt Lake Tribune | comment Comment
04/18/08
Sean Means
Sean Means
Salt Lake Tribune

Where Rush Hour was a cash-in, The Forbidden Kingdom is a deliberate and loving homage.

Full Review Source: Bryant Frazer's Deep Focus | comment Comment
04/18/08
Bryant Frazer
Bryant Frazer
Bryant Frazer's Deep Focus

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.

Full Review Source: Colorado Springs Gazette | comment Comment
04/18/08
Brandon Fibbs
Brandon Fibbs
Colorado Springs Gazette

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.

Full Review Source: FromTheBalcony | comment Comment
04/18/08
Bill Clark
Bill Clark
FromTheBalcony

It does not take itself too seriously but it does take the action scenes seriously.

Full Review Source: Beliefnet | comment Comment
04/18/08
Nell Minow
Nell Minow
Beliefnet

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.

Full Review Source: Eclipse Magazine | comment Comment
04/18/08
Michelle Alexandria
Michelle Alexandria
Eclipse Magazine

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.

Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | comment Comment
04/18/08
Laura Clifford
Laura Clifford
Reeling Reviews

It's too bad that the film isn't actually about Jackie or Jet; rather, it's about a bland, annoying, white kid.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
04/17/08
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

Minkoff and Fusco blur the line between homage and laziness.

Full Review Source: Film Blather | comment Comment
04/17/08
Eugene Novikov
Eugene Novikov
Film Blather

Jackie Chan and Jet Li are true artists and watching them together is a real joy.

Full Review Source: Star-Democrat (Easton, MD) | comment Comment
04/17/08
Greg Maki
Greg Maki
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)

The Forbidden Kingdom is a movie that has Jackie Chan and Jet Li kicking each other. And that is why it is awesome.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
04/17/08
David Cornelius
David Cornelius
eFilmCritic.com

Finally, the martial arts genre gets its own version of "City Heat."

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
04/17/08
Peter Sobczynski
Peter Sobczynski
eFilmCritic.com

Toto and Scarecrow were dropped from the project after demanding excessive residuals on the back end.

Full Review Source: Flipside Movie Emporium | comment Comment
04/17/08
Rob Vaux
Rob Vaux
Flipside Movie Emporium

I don't care how tough and talented Jet Li and Jackie Chan are they lost me at Monkey King.

Full Review Source: WaffleMovies.com | comment 3 Comments
04/17/08
Willie Waffle
Willie Waffle
WaffleMovies.com
 
 
61 - 80 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
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Latest News for The Forbidden Kingdom

September 09, 2008: Kung fu fever and fluff mix it up with hordes of floating knights in shining armor with bad attitude, and just a little heavy on the dressing, courtesy of the costume department. Opens in new window
More...

May 01, 2008: Box Office Preview: Iron Man Launches Summer Movie Season
A hero flies into North American multiplexes aiming to kickstart what should be an explosive summer movie season. Paramount's Iron Man is first up to bat this year and is ready... More...

April 24, 2008: Box Office Guru Preview: Odd Couples Invade Multiplexes
Two new buddy comedies enter the marketplace during the final weekend of the spring box office hoping to cash in on what business is left in the last week before Iron Man flies... More...

April 20, 2008: Box Office Guru Wrapup: Chan and Li Rule Box Office Kingdom
Audiences were fired up for the first-ever showdown between martial arts legends Jackie Chan and Jet Li as their new fantasy actioner The Forbidden Kingdom opened at number one... More...

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