Forbidden Kingdom
September 2, 2008
What more can you ask for… Jacky Chan and Jet Li in the same movie, fighting each other! One of the most anticipated movies of the year for martial art movie fans and action fans in general. What was supposed to be a dream come true for fans of both stars (like myself) turned out to be anti climactic. We all used to debate who was better, and we’ll still never know. Jacky and Jet end up on the same side after all. In the end it has some good parts, some bad parts, but the whole thing is just done too light and teenage-ish. My son said it best “once they put the American boy in the movie, and as the star, it was doomed”. What was to be an epic fight film for the ages, never lived up to it’s potential.
Plot: Well it’s sort of a hybrid of many old Chinese movies. The revenge plot, the journey plot, the small band of rebels against the evil warlord. Take your pick. The movie begins with a young Brooklyn boy Michael (Jason Angarano) who is bullied after buying bootleg Kung Fu movies in China town. He is sent back in time by a magical golden staff that belongs to the monkey king who was imprisoned by the evil Jade Warlord. He is soon befriended by a drunken monk Lu Yan (Jacky Chan) who immediately understands why the boy is there and they begin thier journey to fullfill the 1,000 year old prophecy. When they come across the silent monk (Jet Li) Jacky and Jet have to fight for control of the staff and the boy, and that’s where the movie really takes off. We all finally get to see the Jacky-Jet fight, and it’s easily the best part of the film.
Acting: Some good, some bad, Jackie and Jet are good actors in their own right but main star (kid) is new and young and doesn’t really do much for the film. He’s OK. Overall the acting is good, not close to the level of Crouching Tiger, Hero, or Fearless, but It’ll do. The movie wasn’t made to be that serious anyway
Special Effects/Fights: The effects are OK as well. Nothing groundbreaking. I would call it par for a fantasy film. The fight scenes are also OK. Nothing too serious. The fight between Jackie and Jet is the highlight of the movie, everything else is just there.
Final Word: Most movie goers probably wont like the movie. everyone has their expectations to see a great fight film after the last few Jet Li movies released and it just doesn’t deliver. For the younger crowd its great. lots of action and special effects. No blood, and nothing too scary or serious. If your 10 year old wants to see it, perfect. If your older than 15 its probably not What-to-watch.
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