The Forbidden Kingdom

A great treat for all chinese martial-art lovers!

Never before, in a movie where you can catch a chance to watch the all-time kung-fu celebrity stars like Jackie Chan and Jet Li, contesting each other with their skillfull kicks and punches!

This English + Chinese movie, is a mystical epic adventure of an American boy from Boston, into the unknown world of unfamilliar cultures. Like A dream in a dream, he has to conquest obstacles unexplainable and of total mystery to him, for the sake of returning the magical wooden stick (a sort of weapon), known as the 'staff', that once belonged to the legendary Monkey King, who was cursed and turned into stone, by the Jade Warlord general during a fighting challenge. Only with the return of the staff to his hand, the Monkey King is able to free himself once again from the curse.

With amazingly beautiful backdrops of a "once-upon-a-time-in-china", it has brought audiences into an unkown kingdom through the gate of no gate, where he met a drunken kung-fu master, who saved him from the brutality of the warlords army.

From there, their relationships grew fonder, where they realised that both need each other's help to survive in this long and dangerous journey. Along the way, there came Golden Sparrow (Liu Yifei), a young & sweet chinese girl, who is seeking revenge for the death of her parents, murdered by the same evil general, Jade Warlord. A warrior princess herself, only she who knew the way to defeat the general warlord, is through piercing a specially made Jade Arrow cum 'hair-pin' into him. (Wow! That's creatively interesting!)

An additonal member added to the 3-men tribe, when a monk who suddenly crossed into their path and attempt to steal the 'staff' from the them. Unknowing that he also has the same objective to return the staff to the rightful owner, a fierceful kung-fu fighting scene has taken place in a temple betwen the drunken master (Jackie Chan) and the silent monk (Jet Li).

That has to be the best part of the movie where they both showcased the best of their fighting talents which kept audiences tight to their seats. Speeds, agility, endurance, flying kicks, fearsome punches and all things that relates to shaolin kung-fu.

However, I feel the overall story is just duplications and re-enactments of movies like the Karate Kid, The Drunken Master and the Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, which I could recalled watching similar storylines of those 3 movies. (Not very creative on that part). But, you can expect some comedy acting by Jackie Chan himself and a little bit of romance between the American boy and Golden Sparrow, which I think it was just to soften the whole mood. (No kissing scenes in this movie, so lower down your expectation.)

Though, the storyline is pretty simple (like other typical chinese swordfighting dramas), the cgi used for this movie was very good. Billiantly put together with the camera angles (esp. on the fighing scenes), I think its one of the best kung-fu movie ever made in hollywood that I've ever watched.

Taglines : The staff, Monkey King, Warlords, Gate of No Gate, prophecy, elixir (magic potion), immortal, 5 elements, Heavenly Palace, Jade Emperor, ancient china, warriors, bounty hunters

The Forbidden Kingdom - Movie Trailer

Directed by : Rob Minkoff

Main Casts : Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Liu Yifei, Collin Chou, Li Bingbing and Michael Angarano
Related site :  Sypnosis - The Forbidden Kingdom


Crystal Liu Yifei (Golden Sparrow)

I think Liu Yifei (Golden Sparrow), with her oriental features, is very sweet looking in this movie. Should watch her!

I give 3.5 out of 5 credits for the overall. You will never fall asleep!

ps : Appreciations to Kristina and friends for the great movie outing!