The Forbidden Kindgom

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

The Forbidden Kindgom

Man In Black · Anime Mod

Despite the pedigree of talent involved (including Yeun Woo Ping as action director) this has disappointment written all over it.

Even Jackie Chan said at a press conference "If I say it's a good movie now, then many people will be filled with overly high expectations and be disappointed when they see the movie."

Ouch!

braxious · 500 Club Member

this paring looks awsome - as long as it has kick ass kung fu and is a cinematographical dream then the stroy can be pants.

braxious · 500 Club Member

i have to see this film

braxious · 500 Club Member

just saw a trailer for the this film it looks really good

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

The first online review courtesy of AICN

Quint takes a look at THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM!
Ahoy, squirts! Quint here. Okay, so FORBIDDEN KINGDOM Jet Li and Jackie Chan together finally and its in a Hollywood kids film.

Sure, its not the dream team-up, but I cant help but sheepishly admit to liking the flick.

Its NEVERENDING STORY for the Chop Sockey genre. Literally. And I mean that. Rob Minkoff pretty much films the entire book store moment from NEVERENDING STORY, but instead of Bastian we have Michael Angarano and instead of a book store we have a Chinatown shop filled with bootleg Asian DVDs and imports.

The shop is run by an old man, who I was quite happy to realize was Jackie Chan in old age make-up. This character, I think, was the most interesting character in the movie and I loved seeing Chan play an old man so, of course hes in the film for about 4 minutes this way.

Angarano plays a bullied kid who is obsessed with Hong Kong cinema. He has martial arts movie posters up all over his room and watches vintage kung fu movies 24/7.

He ends up being bullied into organizing a theft at the old mans shop and ends up with an antique staff that might be magical. After a chase, he takes a spill off of a roof (staff in hand) and just as he hits the concrete he seems to be transported to Ancient China.

He's the reluctant hero set upon a journey where he has to deliver the one ring... I mean, the magical staff to its rightful owner. He gets help from an at first disinterested immortal (Chan), a young woman seeking revenge and a monk (Li).

I recently talked with Moriarty about this movie in an AIM/iChat conversation and told him that I believe the film will be a gateway movie for many children. He disagreed, but I really do think this will be a great many childrens first exposure to the worlds, fantasy and film-language of Asian cinema.

You have everything from the basic 36 CHAMBERS OF SHAOLIN set-up (weak kid turned martial arts master) and you also have a good look at the fantasy world of Hong Kong cinema. The Monkey God plays a big role in the film, but so does the Animal Style martial arts, but its all kid friendly.

Which is why its not an easy recommend for many people. Jackie Chan does play a drunken fist fighter, which was a good nod to his early work and he does have a really great fight with Jet Li, but beyond that I think the flick wont play to those well-versed in martial arts films or those that cant enjoy it on a basic little boy or girl level.

Fear not, though, moms and dads. There is entertainment to be had with the film, so it shouldnt be torture to sit through with the little one. And for the dads who harbor a secret yellow fever, this is one of the first films of an absolutely gorgeous new Chinese actress named Yifei Liu.

The actions fast and fun, the actings nothing to get excited about, but aside from some horrible delivery from Jet Li its nothing to get upset about either. Chan really does seem to be having a lot of fun and that rubs off.

So there you have it. I dont know what else Id have to say about this flick. Its one that I like in a guilty pleasure sort of way. There are moments that are really strong and there are moments that are really weak. Its a flawed movie, but I think itll be one thatll be looked back on by todays youngsters with a good deal of nostalgia and one that I hope will open up many of them to some amazing Hong Kong classics.

-Quint

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

The UK release date has been officially confirmed as Jully 11th. It will be being relased by Lionsgate Films.

braxious · 500 Club Member

The Forbidden Kingdom, a martial arts film marking the first teaming of Jet Li and Jackie Chan, has topped the US box office on its opening weekend.

The English-language film took $20.9m (£10.5m) in its first three days of release, according to studio estimates.

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

New trailer online, it actually looks pretty good from that...

TRAILER 2

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

Due out next Thursday people.... Book your tickets now...

Totoro101 · Movie Executive Producer

Im looking forward to this movie, the trailers look excellent and Li and chan together...man thats going to be so cool.

braxious · 500 Club Member

this film does look good pitty its not in chinese

Man In Black · Anime Mod

It's not in Mandarin or Cantonese (not Chinese) because it's a Hollywood film, so it will probably be below par as far as the action scenes go too.

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

It got a 12a so it's unlikely to be to violent.

Also, i am just awaiting final confimation on giving away some Forbidden kindgom stuff on CPC Movies....

braxious · 500 Club Member

12a thats soooooooooooooooooo soft.

Man In Black · Anime Mod

Not really. You'd be surprised at what they get away with in 12A rated films these days.

jack_jeckel · On The Casting Couch

Were the Spiderman films not a 12a? Not that they were incredibley violet but they weren't really soft either especially the 3rd one. I saw the Sex and The City movie and was shocked to see a penis in a 15.

Am looking forward to this even if Jackie and Jet have both basically said it's not really a good film but it'll still be fun none the less. Also they apparently want to make another film together and this time do it their own way.

braxious · 500 Club Member

i wouild love to see a Li and Chan film where they go at it in a true Hong Kong stylie -

Man In Black · Anime Mod

I think we all would like to see that braxious.

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

Your going to like this then, they get a 20 minute showpiece fight full pelt half way through. The movie is great, my review is online at CPC Movies Movie Review section.

Anyone else seen it yet?

Mollison · 500 Club Member

nope but planning on remedying that today...

Man In Black · Anime Mod

I want to see it but it is looking unlikely at the moment...

Totoro101 · Movie Executive Producer

It does look good from trailers of the film but the reviews of it are pretty mixed so far.As said before,a movie with Jet Li and Jackie Chan Hong Kong style would be far greater ^-^.