The Forbidden Kingdom (Two-Disc Special Edition + Digital Copy) | Jet Li

The Forbidden Kingdom (Two-Disc Special Edition + Digital Copy) | Jet Li | Definitely for a younger audience ...

DVDs:

The Forbidden King...

	The Forbidden Kingdom (Two-Disc Special Edition + Digital Copy) Jet Li Lions Gate, 2008 average customer review:based on 95 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Martial Arts Fairy Tale Come To Life

A great story about taking a Western-world wimp kid, obsessed with martial arts, and introducing him to Eastern-world martial art philosophies and training in a fairy tale setting (the story of the 'Monkey King'). If for no other reason to get this movie, the fight scene between Jackie Chan and Jet Li is absolutely awesome. If you are a fan of either or both Jackie Chan or Jet Li this one is an absolute must. I highly recommend it!

Definitely for a younger audience ...

I love me some Crouching Tiger-ish Kung Fu movies. I've had my eye on The Forbidden Kingdom since it came out, considering the film teamed up Jet Li AND Jackie Chan- two favs for me!- in a fantasy type period piece.

I, for one, wasn't disappointed although- because it seemed to be targeting a younger audience- it didn't match the caliber of some other recent martial arts films to hit the theaters.

The story begins with a young boy named Jason who dreams Kung Fu epic battles every night. He's even befriended an old Chinese man he calls Pop, who runs a pawn shop in Boston's Chinatown. When a bunch of bullies force him to get Pop to open the door for them, he ends up running for his life. But during the fray, Jason picks up a magical bo staff that Pop had been holding onto till the one who is supposed to return it to it's proper owner arrives.

To Jason's horror, the Bullies end up shooting Pop, and just when they have Jason cornered as well, the bo staff transports Jason to an ancient Chinese kingdom, where an evil war lord rules and the noble Monkey King has been turned to stone, awaiting the return of his magical staff.

Which of course becomes Jason's mission!

Along the way, he meets a constantly inebriated immortal named Lu Yan (Jackie Chan) who reluctantly agrees to mentor Jason in the martial arts. He also befriends a beautiful young woman named Sparrow, who's family was murdered by the nut case warlord. To round out the group, a mysterious monk (Jet Li) who has dedicated his life to finding the Monkey King's staff, also joins them.

Stunningly beautiful scenery populates the film and crazy acrobatic battles between Li & Chan ensue- as well as between these two and the big bads! The movie even made me chuckle from time to time, thanks to the always enthusiastic, though admittedly getting-too-old-for-this, Jackie Chan.

In the end, The Forbidden Kingdom felt a bit like The Karate Kid for 2008. A cool little fable with plenty of action too boot! (I certainly would recommend it for a younger audience then Jet Li usually draws!)

4 out of 5 from me

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The Forbidden Kingdom

A nice light fantasy adventure movie with some Kung Fu fighting thrown in as well. This is not meant to be a serious kick tail Kung Fu movie. If you thought that you will be disappointed. It is much more serious than "Karate Kid", but it has a fair amount of humor thrown in initially. It is meant to be a movie the family can enjoy and they will. A nice mix of modern and ancient with East meets West. Good casting with Michael Angarano as the Jersey American thrown into the past, where he meets three masters of Kung Fu in Ancient China played by Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and Yifei Liu. He must take a special staff that was given to him by a dying Chinese Pawn Shop owner, played by Chan, to the Monkey King, played by Li. Chan reuses his role as a drunken master in the Ancient China role as he has done well before in other movies. Although this movie is more adventure than huge Kung Fu choregraphed fights, there are still plenty of those in the movie. Chan and Li both played two parts adeptly, and I recommend it. I give it three and a half stars. Great quality DVD with extras and good replayability. If you enjoyed this catch "Kung Fu Hustle".

CA Luster

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